In pictures: Queen officially opens Scottish Parliament

The Queen has officially opened the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Because of social distancing restrictions, the ceremony went ahead in the debating chamber with empty seats and pre-recorded music.

The Queen spoke of her "deep affection" for Scotland during the ceremony

Members of the public watched the ceremonial parade on the Royal Mile ahead of the opening of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Royal Archers were part of the procession.

The Queen was greeted at the Scottish Parliament by Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross.

Kathy Richmond, from Historic Environment Scotland, prepared the Crown of Scotland at Edinburgh Castle. The crown appears in the chamber as part of the opening proceedings, and is taken to Holyrood as part of the "Riding of Parliament", a ritual dating back to the 15th Century and reintroduced in 1999.

The Duke of Hamilton carried the Crown of Scotland into the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, having accompanied it from Edinburgh Castle.

The Queen, 95, was accompanied into the Scottish Parliament by presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who formally welcomed the royal guests in the debating chamber in English and Gaelic.

The leaders of the main political parties in Scotland greeted The Queen before the ceremony.

Guards stood watch at the Scottish Parliament during the ceremony.

The Queen congratulated the Scottish parliament for being able to mark the new session safely in a "very trying period" and told MSPs they had a key role to "help create a better, healthier future for us all and engage with the people they represent, especially our young people".

Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, attended the ceremony before leaving by helicopter.

In her address, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon thanked The Queen for being a "steadfast friend of our parliament since its establishment in 1999".

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