Lady Elish Angiolini has become the first practicing Catholic to represent His Majesty King Charles at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

She told the General Assembly that she is "profoundly honoured" to have been chosen as Lord High Commissioner at the annual gathering which opened in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Lady Elish's appointment was only made possible after both Houses of Parliament in London changed a law dating back to 1689 that barred Catholics from holding the role.

Addressing the General Assembly, she said people born and brought up in Scotland will be well aware of the "profound significance of the appointment of a Catholic to this role".

"I still believe that prejudice and sectarianism can be overcome by that fundamental recognition in us that we are all Jock Tamson's bairns and by the recognition of each other as the creation of God, requiring the love, forgiveness and support we would all seek for ourselves in all of our imperfection."

Friendship

Lady Elish highlighted the historic St Margaret's declaration of friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland.

It was signed by Dr Iain Greenshields, Archbishop Leo Cushley and Princess Anne at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline in 2022.

Lady Lady Elish Angiolini is welcomed to the General Assembly by Rt Rev Rosemary Frew.

"As so many of you know well, the declaration was the culmination of years of ecumenical relationship building between the two churches and recognises each other as brothers and sisters in Christ," she added.

Archbishop Leo Cushley spoke at the General Assembly on Monday and said: "I would like to say how pleased my fellow Catholics and I are that His Majesty the King has chosen to send a Catholic as the Lord High Commissioner this year.

"With the blessing of my brother bishops I wrote to the King to express our gratitude to him for this gracious gesture.

"By doing so it would appear that he has chosen to build upon the momentum created by the signing of the St Margaret Declaration in 2022, and Catholics in Scotland welcome that very warmly indeed." Watch his address on YouTube.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, said: "Your appointment was an inspired one, a real living out of the 2022 St Margaret Declaration of friendship and respect between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland, brothers and sisters in Christ, citizens and partners in announcing the kingdom of God in our land.

"We pray for every blessing on you and your household for the week ahead."