The Queen has joined Prince Charles for her second major public appearance of Holyrood Week at a unique military event at her Edinburgh palace.

More than 300 officers and archers from the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland took part in the Reddendo parade, watched by Her Majesty and her eldest son, the heir to the throne.

The Royal Company of Archers acts as the Sovereign’s ceremonial Body Guard for Scotland, a role which was created in 1822 during a visit to Scotland by King George V.

Her Majesty is in the Scottish capital for Holyrood Week, and took part in the Ceremony of the Keys on Monday.

The 96-year-old also met with Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday, a day after Scotland’s first minister suggested a date for a new referendum on Scottish independence.

They talked at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

The monarch has been facing ongoing mobility issues and has been seen with a stick or sat down during recent public appearances.

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On Thursday, the Queen, dressed in a cornflower blue suit and a matching hat, arrived by the Equerry’s Door along with Prince Charles, who is also known by his title Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland.

The pair, who appeared in high spirits, were greeted in the garden by the captain general of the Royal Company of Archers, the Duke of Buccleuch, before receiving a royal salute.

The event marks the largest gathering of the Sovereign’s Body Guard in history with 25 officers and 298 Archers expected to be on parade.

The Prince of Wales inspected the royal company with the parade commander, and the Queen was presented with a Reddendo, a present from the officers and archers to mark the bicentenary of the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland.

In previous centuries, the Reddendo presented to the monarch was a pair of arrows on a velvet cushion.

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But during the three occasions Queen Elizabeth II has received the gift, it has been replaced by more practical items – a brooch in 1952, a glass vase in 1976 and a pen tray in 2006.

The Reddendo is presented with the traditional words spoken by the captain general: “According to our ancient Charter, I present to Your Majesty the Reddendo, craving that Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to continue Your royal countenance and recognition of all the ancient rights and privileges of the Royal Company of Archers, Your Majesty’s Body Guard for Scotland.”

On Tuesday the monarch met members of the armed forces in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, during an act of loyalty parade to celebrate her traditional visit to Scotland and to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

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