• born in Edinburgh in 1961 to a Scottish mother and Nigerian father, and was adopted at birth
• she had a happy childhood, in spite of racial bullying at school
• the birth of her own son spurred her to trace her natural mother

• at first Kay wanted to be an actress and attended part-time classes at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow
• She was encouraged towards writing when a teacher sent some of her poems to Alasdair Gray, who recognised their merit
• She studied English at the University of Stirling and then moved to London 
• She has written poetry, fiction and plays, as well as a non-fiction work about the jazz singer Bessie Smith

The poem Threshold, will now performed by Scots Makar Jackie Kay.

Ms Kay wrote the specially commissioned poem.

• Edwin George Morgan was born on 27 April 1920 in the West End of Glasgow. 
• he went to Glasgow University to study English literature in 1937. 
• the Second World War then interrupted his studies and from 1940 he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. 
• returning to Glasgow in 1946, he graduated with first class honours the following year. 

• he joined the staff of the English Literature Department after turning down a scholarship to Oxford. 
• his first book of poetry was published in 1952
• in 1999 he became Glasgow’s first official Poet Laureate
• he received the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry
• in 2004, he became Scotland’s first official national poet or ‘Scots Makar’
• he died in Glasgow on 19 August, 2010

Open the Doors!, A poem written by Edwin Morgan will now be performed by the Scottish YouthTheatre, external (SYT).

SYT is one of Scotland’s national youth performing arts companies and has been providing theatre arts experiences to young people in Scotland since 1977.

On Friday 24 June the Peeblesshire News reported, external:

"Peeblesshire teenager, Tom Aitken, won the right to have his music performed at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in front of Her Majesty the Queen."

Mr Aitken's Piano Quintet No.1 will be performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Ensemble. 

The Queen says she will continue to follow Holyrood's progress with the closest of interests and she extends her best wishes for the next session of parliament.

The Queen says the parliament will have to implement new tax and welfare powers and she wishes the MSPs well in doing so.

The Queen says it is a pleasure to be invited to mark the opening of the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Macintosh concludes saying: "Government or opposition, front or backbench, each one of us has something to contribute for, as Jo Cox said in her maiden speech in the Commons – 'we have far more in common than that which divides us'.  

"My hope - like the poet’s – is still great."

"Your Majesty, can I call on you to address the Scottish Parliament."

The presiding officer says: "Today outside this parliament we fly the rainbow flag of Pride – testimony to the 49 lives lost in the senseless shootings in an Orlando nightclub, and a flag which displays our solidarity with the families and communities they left behind.

"We continue to mourn the loss of our Parliamentary colleague Jo Cox and I believe it is simply not enough to condemn such atrocities.  

"We have been given the privilege of public office and we need to lead by example."

Ahead of the Queen addressing MSPs, Ken Macintosh says: "Your Majesty, the parliament before you today stands ready for the challenges that lie ahead of us. Every MSP in this chamber is proud to represent the people of Scotland."

The presiding officer says: "In these few short weeks, weeks of unprecedented political turbulence, I have already seen a real willingness to work cooperatively and collaboratively. 

"I have seen the emergence of a shared agenda to clarify the identity and role of the Scottish Parliament and a shared recognition that it is more important than ever that the parliament finds its own voice – a voice of hope, to echo Donald Dewar, a voice for the future."

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh extends a "particularly warm welcome to you Your Majesty – and not just because of the significant milestones you have achieved this year."

The Presiding Officer opens the meeting of Parliament and formally welcomes Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen enters Holyrood's chamber to a fanfare and preceded by the Royal Company of Archers (6) and Officers of Arms.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament’s Mace enters the chamber and proceeds down the right aisle towards the well of the chamber.

The Queen meets Scotland's party leaders in the Scottish Parliament's garden lobby:

• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
• Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson
• Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale
• Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie
• Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at the Queensberry House entrance to the Scottish Parliament, Canongate, Royal Mile and are met by thhe Rt Hon the Lord Provost, Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh and The Lady Provost.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh escorts The Queen and the Deputy Presiding Officers escort The Duke of Edinburgh across the courtyard to Queensberry House (followed by the Royal Household).