![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she visits AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, east of Glasgow, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured on June 28, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen01.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Queen arrived in Scotland for her annual summer residence, Holyrood Week, on Monday—and we were treated to a pair of royal brooches during her first engagements!
![Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, known as the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, arrive for a visit to AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured, as part of her traditional trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week on June 28, 2021 in Cumbernauld, Scotland](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen02.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Holyrood Week, or Royal Week, takes place annually at the end of June and beginning of July, when the Queen takes up residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Buckingham Palace notes that, during the week, the Queen and other members of the royal family “undertake visits across Scotland celebrating Scottish culture, achievement and communities.” This year, the Duke of Cambridge (who is the Earl of Strathearn when in Scotland) and the Princess Royal will be joining the Queen for her Holyrood Week engagements.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II unveils a plaque during a visit to AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, east of Glasgow, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured on June 28, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen03.jpg?resize=1200%2C894&ssl=1)
On Monday, the Queen and Prince William kicked off the week with a visit to an important Scottish institution: the A.G. Barr factory in Cumbernauld. The factory has been making soft drinks, including Irn-Bru, for more than a century. The Queen officially opened a new process facility during the visit.
![Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) samples Irn-Bru as he and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visit AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, east of Glasgow, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured on June 28, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen04.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Queen and Prince William toured the facility and met with employees during the visit. They were also given a chance to sample the company’s most famous product, Irn-Bru. Because, as Rebecca English noted, “The Queen is rarely seen eating or drinking in public,” the task of sampling the carbonated soft drink fell to William.
![Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) reacts while sampling Irn-Bru as he and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visit AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, east of Glasgow, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured on June 28, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1650&ssl=1)
“That’s quite good, actually,” William offered after taking a sip. The recipe of the famous drink is a highly guarded secret.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers as she meets employees during a visit to AG Barr's factory in Cumbernauld, east of Glasgow, where the Irn-Bru drink is manufactured on June 28, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen06.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
For the visit to A.G. Barr, the Queen chose a favorite brooch. The Pearl Trefoil Brooch, set with diamonds and pearls, has been in her collection since at least the 1980s, and it’s worn for a range of occasions.
![Queen Elizabeth II and Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich attend The Palace Of Holyrood house on June 28, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen07.jpg?resize=1200%2C930&ssl=1)
The next stop for the royals was the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official Scottish residence.
![Queen Elizabeth II attends The Palace Of Holyrood house on June 28, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen08.jpg?resize=1200%2C1800&ssl=1)
There, Prince William looked on as the Queen took part in the ancient Ceremony of the Keys. Each time the Queen visits Edinburgh, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh presents her with the keys to the city. Here, the keys are offered to HM on a crimson velvet cushion. Each time, she replies, “I return these keys, being perfectly convinced that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh.”
![Queen Elizabeth II and Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich attend The Palace Of Holyrood house on June 28, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen09.jpg?resize=1200%2C1800&ssl=1)
The ceremony also gave the Queen an opportunity to chat with a familiar face: Alastair Bruce, the journalist, correspondent, and historian. Bruce has interviewed the Queen for television and has acted as a commentator for numerous royal occasions. He was also the historical consultant for Downton Abbey—and, in a more familial connection, he’s a godfather to Viscount Severn, the Queen’s youngest grandson. Major General Bruce was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 2019.
![Queen Elizabeth II attends The Palace Of Holyrood house on June 28, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0629-queen10.jpg?resize=1200%2C1799&ssl=1)
For the Ceremony of the Keys, the Queen wore the same outfit from her factory visit, but switched out her brooch. This is the gem-encrusted badge of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Queen is their Colonel-in-Chief. We featured this badge yesterday as one of the jewels often worn by the Queen when in Scotland.
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