Queen receives First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh

The Queen has received Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

She also spoke with the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, at her official residence in Scotland's capital.

The meetings took place as part of her annual summer trip to Edinburgh, often known as Royal or Holyrood Week.

The Queen will be joined by other members of the Royal Family during the four-day trip.

Last year's trip was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the Queen's first official visit to Scotland since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in April.

Later on Tuesday, she officially reopened the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders' Museum during a visit to Stirling Castle.

The Queen was welcomed there by almost 100 veterans of the Highlanders, who had gathered from across Scotland and England, and was presented with the key to the castle.

She then unveiled a plaque to commemorate the museum reopening after a three-year renovation, before being taken on a tour which she said was "very, very interesting".

Meanwhile, Prince William visited BAE Systems' shipyard in Govan, on the south side of Glasgow, on Tuesday.

Based on the River Clyde, BAE Systems designs and manufactures warships for the Royal Navy.

Prince William, who is also known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, spoke to apprentices and graduates who are training there to work on advanced technology programmes.

He spoke about the late Duke of Edinburgh after touring a warship under construction.

"My family's affection for the Royal Navy is well known, and, as I saw the work taking place here today, I was thinking of my grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

"He would have been fascinated and excited to see such advances in skills and technology being put into practice."

Prince William also attended a ceremony to mark the start of construction on HMS Belfast, a City Class Type 26 global combat ship.

He delivered a short speech, before officially cutting the first plate of steel for the Type 26 frigate.

Before leaving, William was presented with three wooden models of Royal Navy warships for his children to paint.

Thomas Augaitis, who built the models with a fellow apprentice, was part of a group that handed over the gifts to the royal.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex, who are also known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar when in Scotland, visited Edinburgh's new St James Quarter on Tuesday and were given a tour of the new shopping centre.