George Reid takes up Royal role

Published on Wednesday 14 May 2008 15:14

THE former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament arrived at Holyrood Palace today to take up his post as Queen's representative to the Kirk's General Assembly.

The Right Honourable George Reid has taken over from the Duke of York as Her Majesty's Lord High Commissioner to the church at its annual meeting, which opens tomorrow.

He was met by a guard of honour from 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland as he arrived at the palace.

The Lord High Commissioner is the sovereign's personal representative to the Annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and takes up residence for the week in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The former Nationalist MP and MSP, who retired from politics at last May's Scottish Parliament election, will make opening and closing addresses to the Assembly.

As part of the largely ceremonial role Mr Reid will attend each day of the meeting and report back to the Queen personally on the week's business.

A round of official visits in Scotland and several evening engagements at Holyroodhouse form part of his itinerary.

The 68-year-old worked as a broadcast journalist before entering Westminster at the 1974 General Election but lost his Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire seat in 1979.

He returned to elected office as an MSP at the first Scottish Parliament election in 1999 and replaced Sir David Steel as Presiding Officer in 2003.

During the period of the Assembly, the Lord High Commissioner ranks next to the sovereign, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Rothesay, and before the rest of the Royal family.