Royal Week in Edinburgh

Yesterday, Monday 30 June, saw the symbolic Ceremony of the Keys in the Forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, when the Queen received the keys to Edinburgh from the Lord Provost of the city. She then returned the keys to the Lord Provost and the city's councillors.

The Queen will lead an Investiture Ceremony held to recognise the achievements of Scots honoured in the New Year's Honours List and on her Official Birthday. Over 8000 guests will attend a garden party at the Queen's official residence in Scotland today.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal will attend a service at St Giles' Cathedral, where two Knights of Thistle - Scotland's Order of Chivalry - will be created. The Thistle Chapel in St Giles Cathedral is home to Scotland's Order of Chivalry. Its anti-chapel extols three subjects, Christianity, Chivalry and Scotland. The Queen has the sole right to create members of the Order of the Thistle. Even some of the angels play the bagpipes in the Thistle Chapel!

Edinburgh has strong ties with the Royal Family. Visitors to the Scottish capital can explore the famous Royal Mile, which stretches from Edinburgh Castle down to the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse with the Royal Mile & More, Walk Talk Tour, audio downloadable walking tour.

Listeners to the Royal Mile & More, Edinburgh city guide will hear of bloodshed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots in the sixteenth century. The Palace's importance declined after James VI of Scotland also became James I of England in 1603.

The Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie, briefly used the Palace as his HQ during the 1745 rebellion.

Please be aware that the Palace is closed to reopens to members of the public during Royal Week. It will reopen on 6 July.

There are two Walk Talk Tours of Edinburgh. Both tours start outside Edinburgh Castle. Each Edinburgh downloadable travel guide can be completed in two hours, but listeners are free to stop and start as they wish. With a Walk Talk Tour you're in charge. No need to feel conspicuous with a guidebook in your hands, or struggle to keep up with - let alone hear - the tour guide with an umbrella.

Listeners with the Royal Mile & More iPod travel guide will hear about the man who unwittingly built his own gallows. Hear about the last person to be sentenced under the Witchcraft Act in Britain, find out how the imposition of a prayer book was the catalyst for a riot at St Giles Cathedral, see where J K Rowling composed some of her Harry Potter novels and learn about Edinburgh's most famous canine, and more. To hear an audio sample from the Royal Mile & More podcast guided tour please click here.

The two Edinburgh visitor guides cost just £5.95 each. Both professionally produced tours come complete with a downloadable map of the route, so you won't miss a thing!