King Charles will receive a specially-made ceremonial sword when he travels to Edinburgh next week.
Craftsmen on Thursday unveiled the new sword, which is named The Elizabeth after the late Queen.
The King is to be presented with the Honours of Scotland at a national service of thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral on July 5, but will be given the new sword on the Monday before.
The Elizabeth is to fill the gap left by the Sword of State, otherwise known as the Papal sword, which has not been used at public events in recent years due to its condition.
The sword, which is inspired by thistles and the Scottish landscape, was designed by Mark Dennis, an advocate from St Andrews.
Mr Dennis said: “There’s never been anything like it before. It was a concept and the concept was simply this: it had to work.
“It had to work as a ceremonial sword, so it’s overall dimensions are about the same as the papal sword, but it also had to be entirely different. So the nature of it, the fact that the hilt and the quillings are a swirling thistle you’ll never have seen before on another sword.
“Gilded as it is, it looks appropriate. It looks like a sword of state.”
