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

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has been appointed as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021.

This is a significant role that comes with great responsibilities, and it is the second time that the Duke has been given this position.

The appointment was made by Her Majesty the Queen on Monday.

The Lord High Commissioner's role is chosen yearly by the Queen, and it usually lasts for 12 months.

The position is typically reserved for Scottish people, although members of the Royal Family have held the title previously, including Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, and Prince Edward.

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

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

The commission granted by the Queen is specific to Scotland, so the Lord High Commissioner must be present in Scotland to perform the role.

William, known as the Earl of Strathran in Scotland, will also make the opening and closing addresses at the Assembly and carry out a number of official functions as the Lord High Commissioner.

He will report to the Queen on the proceedings.

According to the Royal Family's website, the Lord High Commissioner's role is to maintain the relationship between the State and the Church.

A long-standing tradition of appointing a Lord High Commissioner originated in the latter part of the 16th century.

The Lord High Commissioner makes opening and closing addresses to the General Assembly and reports to Her Majesty on its proceedings.

For the duration of the General Assembly, the Sovereign grants the Lord High Commissioner permission to reside at the Palace of Holyrood House.

During this time, the Lord High Commissioner receives a Guard of Honour, a 21-gun salute, and the keys to the City of Edinburgh.

It is also customary for the Lord High Commissioner to invite distinguished guests to stay at the Palace and to offer hospitality to commissioners to the Assembly and those who have contributed to public life in Scotland.

William and his wife Catherine are known as the Earl and Countess of Strathran in Scotland.

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

The Queen, therefore, does not hold the title Supreme Governor of the Church of Scotland when attending Church services in Scotland.

Her Majesty does so as an ordinary member.

The appointment of Prince William was made on the advice of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

It comes at a critical time for the Union, with the Scottish Government publishing draft legislation for the holding of a second independence referendum.

The Scottish National Party, led by Ms. Sturgeon, plans to bring forward the bill if it wins a majority at the upcoming elections in May.

The draft bill proposes the same questions asked in 2014 when Scottish people chose to back the Union and did not set a date for the referendum.

The UK Government has so far rejected the Scottish National Party's calls for a new vote on Scotland's independence.

Prince William's appointment as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021 is a significant recognition of his commitment to public service.