The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland gave the homily at the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton took part in the event for the King and Queen, on the occasion of the Presentation of the Royal Honours of Scotland – the crown and sceptre, and also a new sword named after the late Queen Elizabeth.

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, members of the Royal Family, religious and political leaders and hundreds of representatives from across civic Scotland and the public sector were in attendance at the service. The crown jewels were presented to the King by the Very Rev Prof David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.

A 21-gun salute was fired from Edinburgh Castle before the royal procession travelled back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and later there was a flypast over Edinburgh by the RAF Red Arrows.

Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, read from Psalm 19, while a Gospel reading from the Beatitudes was read in Scots by former Edinburgh Makar, and Church of Scotland elder Christine De Luca.

Psalm 23 was sung in Gaelic by Joy Dunlop, and there was further music from the violinist Nicola Benedetti.

Mrs Foster-Fulton said in her sermon that they were gathered ‘to commit to and celebrate the common good of the place and people of Scotland’.

She said that life would be ‘depleted’ if we ‘do not embrace the richness of different perspectives’.

She also spoke on the Beatitudes, which she said could be viewed as ‘Jesus setting out his stall, announcing his manifesto‘.

She said: “Another translation is, ‘you’re on the right track if’,

“The ‘poor in spirit’ – they are not weak or poor, the meek aren’t doormats – no, they are the brave ones among us with a deep awareness that no one alone has all the answers.

“The ones of us who call us together to search for answers that elude us when we search from our one limited perspective. “We need them more than ever today. “And ‘we’re on the right track if’ our people are brave enough, bold enough, empowered and hopeful enough to listen and learn from, and cherish, each other. “To choose collaboration and trust over a fear-filled circling of our wagons. “Sisters and brothers, look around you. “We are one global neighbourhood – intricately inter-related and completely codependent, woven together, like a tartan.

“My kingdom-coming in real time comforts those who mourn – the death of someone, of course, but also the life snatched from them by war, oppression, climate chaos, systemic poverty that pulls them down like a whirlpool.

“There is no them and us, only us – and when one human being suffers, we all suffer.

“My kingdom coming means we comfort each other, welcome each other, cherish every human life – mercy and peace are not ideals to be domesticated or downgraded, they are not ‘good to have’s’ but part of the fabric of our being. “Are we on the right track? “This ancient text reminds us today that a bold vision like this is a tough and very often thankless task – calling for love when there is so much fear is not for the faint-hearted.

“But rejoice, it says, rejoice because it is worth it. Love is worth it.”

She also praised the King and Queen for making ‘it part of your mission to speak alongside creation; advocating for it.

“As we present the honours of Scotland to you, we commit ourselves to walking that journey with you.

“We are all a small part of something so much bigger – this beautiful, sacred creation and everyone and everything in it.”