The Queen spoke of her ‘deep and abiding affection’ for Scotland during the formal opening of the Scottish parliament’s sixth session.
The pandemic and the COP26 climate conference, which starts in Glasgow on 1 November, were mentioned in a short speech by the Queen, who told Members of the Scottish Parliament they would have a ‘key role’ in tackling climate change.
Queen Elizabeth II, who has been on her annual break at Balmoral Castle, will return to Scotland next month for COP26.