All the best pictures as King and Queen kick off Royal Week in Edinburgh

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been out and about in Edinburgh on Tuesday on the first day of Royal Week, the annual week in July the monarch spends in Edinburgh carrying out Scottish engagements.

The day began with the Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the tradition which marks the official start of Royal Week.

The King arrived at the ceremony by helicopter and was presented with the keys to Edinburgh by Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, which he returned for safe keeping.

Charles met senior military figures and received a royal salute during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla took a trip to the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) on The Mound, where she was shown artworks by a number of Scottish artists as part of the Chaos and Control: Printmaking in Scotland Now exhibition.

The monarch joked that she “didn’t have the talent” of her husband Charles or late father-in-law, Prince Philip, to paint but said she “did try very badly”.

To celebrate the RSA’s 200th anniversary, the Queen cut what she described as a “beautiful” cake to mark the occasion, before signing the visitors’ book.

Later in the day, the Queen held an audience with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, where the pair reportedly discussed the importance of young people having access to books.

A post on The Royal Family’s official social media read: “With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The Queen and author J.K. Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

“Her Majesty and Ms Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”

King Charles also held an audience with the First Minister John Swinney, and the new Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Kenneth Gibson.

Have a look through our gallery of some of the best pictures of the day.