Prince William Appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021

Prince William, third in line to the throne, has been bestowed with a new title – Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021.

This prestigious role was recently assigned to him by Her Majesty the Queen on Monday.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Prince William has been given this position.

He was previously appointed as the Sovereign's Representative in 2020, but unfortunately, the Annual General Assembly in Edinburgh last May was canceled due to the pandemic.

The Lord High Commissioner role is an annual appointment made by the Queen, with a tenure of 12 months.

Typically, this position is reserved for Scottish individuals, although members of the Royal Family have held this title in the past, including Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, and Prince Edward.

Prince William now succeeds the esteemed Scottish aristocrat Richard Scott, the 10th Duke of Bucklew and 12th Duke of Queensberry.

In his new capacity, Prince William will travel to Scotland in May to personally host the online event as one of the Principal Officers at the General Assembly Hall in Edinburgh.

It is important to note that the commission granted by the Queen is specific to Scotland, requiring the Lord High Commissioner to be physically present in the country to fulfill the duties.

Prince William, also known as the Earl of Strathran in Scotland, will deliver both the opening and closing addresses at the Assembly, along with carrying out various official functions as the Lord High Commissioner.

Additionally, he will provide a comprehensive report to the Queen on the proceedings.

According to the Royal Family's website, the Lord High Commissioner plays a vital role in maintaining the relationship between the State and the Church.

This tradition dates back to the latter part of the 16th century.

During the General Assembly, the Lord High Commissioner delivers opening and closing addresses, while also submitting reports on the Assembly's activities to Her Majesty.

Furthermore, for the duration of the Assembly, the Sovereign grants the Lord High Commissioner permission to reside at the Palace of Holyrood House, where they receive a Guard of Honour, a 21-gun salute, and the keys to the City of Edinburgh.

It is customary for the Lord High Commissioner to extend invitations to distinguished guests to stay at the Palace, as well as offer hospitality to commissioners attending the Assembly and individuals who have made significant contributions to public life in Scotland.

In Scotland, Prince William and his wife Catherine are known as the Earl and Countess of Strathran.

The Church of Scotland, being a Presbyterian Church, recognizes only Jesus Christ as King and Head of the Church.

Consequently, when attending Church services in Scotland, Her Majesty does not hold the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of Scotland but attends as an ordinary member.

Each year, the Queen appoints a figure to fulfill the role of Lord High Commissioner, with previous members of the Royal Family undertaking this responsibility including Princess Anne, Prince Charles (also known as the Duke of Rossay in Scotland), Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.

The appointment of Prince William as Lord High Commissioner comes at a critical juncture for the Union, as the Scottish Government has recently published draft legislation for a second independence referendum.

The Scottish National Party, led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, intends to introduce the Bill if they secure a majority in the upcoming May elections.