The Right Honourable Lord Lyon King of Arms has summoned a new UK Parliament from Edinburgh ahead of the UK Parliamentary Election on 8 June 2017.
The Royal Proclamation was given by Lord Lyon King of Arms at the Mercat Cross today, in a ceremony which dates back to before the Union of 1707.
The rite marking the dissolution of parliament saw the Lord Lyon King of Arms read a proclamation summoning a new UK Parliament, which was signed by HM the Queen at Windsor Castle at a meeting of the Privy Council yesterday.
Parliament automatically dissolved on Wednesday in accordance with the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
The ceremony, on the Royal Mile, involved Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for Edinburgh.
He said: “Today marks a pivotal moment in the political calendar. As we observed this historic occasion residents across the city were casting their own votes in the local election.
“As a new UK Parliament is summoned by the Right Honourable Lord Lyon, we look toward a national election too, and another opportunity for the public to have their say. I would encourage electors to ensure their voter registration details are correct in order not to miss out.”
The Lord Lyon will also be accompanied by the Sheriff Clerk representing the Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders, Her Majesty’s Officers of Arms and the State Trumpeters of Scotland.  A Guard of Honour from Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, will also be present.
Find out when, where and how to vote on the Council’s website.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
