This week, Prince William has been in Scotland fulfilling his role as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. So what exactly does that mean?
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is an appointment granted by the Sovereign. Queen Elizabeth appointed Prince William, or the Earl of Strathearn as he is known in Scotland, to the 2020 General Assembly but ceremonies were cancelled due to the global health emergency. As such, the Earl of Strathearn took on the role this year instead. The Lord High Commissioner is the Sovereign’s personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and sustains the relationship between the State and Church. The General Assembly is the name of the group of commissioners who review the laws and work of the church and make decisions about the future of the church. This year the General Assembly numbers 756 members who are gathering remotely and in socially-distanced events.
The Earl of Strathearn made a speech at the opening ceremony and again spoke at the closing ceremony. The Lord High Commissioner also observed debates within the assembly.
Throughout the week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse where they hosted dignitaries and special guests. One night, guests of honour were be NHS staff from Scotland and Holyroodhouse was transformed into a drive-in movie theatre for a special viewing of Disney’s Cruella. Prince William also heard how the Church of Scotland’s charities have adapted to the pandemic to still be there for the community.
Ahead of his visit, Kensington Palace released a statement: “The Duke is honoured to be fulfilling the role of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland this year. Both he and The Duchess are very much looking forward to spending time in Scotland, hearing from a wide range of people on the issues they care about, and celebrating individuals who have gone above and beyond to support their communities over the past year.”
The tradition of naming a Lord High Commissioner began in the late 16th century. It is part of the responsibility to “preserve the settlement of the true Protestant religion as established by the laws made in Scotland.” The person appointed is a notable Scottish figure who has given back to society. Many members of the Royal Family have received the honour. Prince Charles, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex have all filled the role at some stage, with Princess Anne being appointed twice.
Three weeks after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth solidified her relationship with the Church of Scotland in a Service of Dedication. The Queen was blessed by the Dean of the Church and head of the General Assembly. Interestingly, when The Queen attends church in Scotland, she does so as a regular citizen. This is because the Church of Scotland, as a Presbyterian church, only recognizes Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church. Whereas in the Church of England, the monarch has the title of Supreme Governor. The Queen served as Lord High Commissioner twice, once in 1969 and again in 2002.
