BBC coverage of Scotland's big day

Kirsty Wark, Derek Bateman and Colin MacKay

The pomp and pageantry of the official opening of the Scottish Parliament will be broadcast live from the streets of Edinburgh and inside the parliamentary chamber on BBC ONE, starting at 1030.

BBC News Online willl also be providing live coverage via our On Air page. Click here on the day for details.

Last month Kirsty Wark brought all the news of how Scotland elected its 129 MSPs to viewers throughout the country and now she returns to present a two-hour live broadcast from a specially constructed studio in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens.

The BBC is mounting a huge exercise

More than 40 cameras will be positioned in the Assembly Halls chamber and along the route of the ceremonial processions, which include the Crown of Scotland being taken from Edinburgh Castle to the parliament building in an open car.

Programme producer Atholl Duncan said: "It's one of the largest, most complicated outside broadcasts ever mounted by BBC Scotland for a programme that will be seen throughout the UK and abroad."

About 1500 youngsters from every part of Scotland will escort another civic procession led by a pipe band from Parliament House to the nearby parliamentary chamber.

The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales also will be escorted by 16 troopers from the Household Cavalry as they make their way in an open carriage from Holyrood Palace to the parliament.

Cameras will cover all the proceedings

Inside the Parliament Chamber, John Milne will provide the commentary as the Queen performs the opening ceremony, before an RAF flypast and review parade concludes the historic event.

The previous night, Wednesday 30 June, Last Night of the RSNO Proms will be shown on BBC TWO Scotland from 2130 to 2230 (BST).

This will provide a musical foretaste of Scotland's big day with a selection of popular classics and patriotic songs.

Conductor Owain Arwel Hughes is joined by violinist Tasmin Little, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth McCormack, the RSNO Chorus and former Corrie Ronnie Browne for the ever-popular end of season musical party.

A half-hour highlights programme, The Opening of the New Scottish Parliament, is scheduled for 2200 (BST) on BBC One Scotland on Thursday 1 July.

Radio coverage

BBC Radio Scotland will broadcast an impressive range of programmes to commemorate the opening of The New Scottish Parliament.

The build-up begins on Wednesday with a Parliamentary Church Service at 1815 (BST) from St Giles' Cathedral, attended by the Queen.

Radio has many programmes devoted to opening

There will also be a specially-commissioned drama - The End of an Auld Sang (2000 BST) - starring John Sessions as Daniel Defoe.

At 2210 (BST), there will be an historic look at Scotland in the early 18th century by Dr Fiona Watson called The Parliament was Here.

Good Morning Scotland (0600 - 0845 BST) kicks off the big day with contributions from the Glasgow and Edinburgh studios and from around the country.

The Fred MacAulay Show (0845 BST) comes live from the Scottish capital.

Derek Bateman and Colin MacKay will then present live coverage of the State Opening in The Opening of the New Scottish Parliament from 1000 (BST) with The Lesley Riddoch Show following at 1200.

Iain Anderson (1430 BST) and It's Your Money (1600 BST) both have special programmes, as do Newsdrive (1630) and Brian Morton (1815), with the last two again coming live from Edinburgh.

Highlights of the day's events will be broadcast at 2100.