Keys to the City of Edinburgh

The explanation:
The Keys of the City are kept by the Director of Finance and are presented only to the Sovereign or the personal representative of the Sovereign appointed by Warrant. the ceremony of presenting the keys to the Sovereign dates back, at least to the reign of Mary Queen of Scots ( 1561 -1566 ); a time when Edinburgh had a town wall with ports or gates for defence.

The keys used today are probably those referred to in 1628 -9 in the accounts of David Makcall, Treasurer of Edinburgh - "payte to adam Lamb, Deacon of the Goldsmythe's for the two keys with the cheinze weayand XII once VII drops wecht of silver - XXXVII 1lbs VIs IIIId." ( thirty-seven pounds six shillings and four pence Scots money ).

It is customary for the Lord Provost, accompanied by Councillors, to present the keys to the Queen when she visits her capital city, with the words "We, the Lord Provost and Members of the City of Edinburgh Council, welcome Your Majesty to the capital city of your ancient and hereditary Kingdom of Scotland and offer for your gracious acceptance the Keys of Your Majesty's good City of Edinburgh'. The form of Her Majesty's reply is "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'.