Neach-gleidhidh Seula Mòr na h-Alba (Scottish Gaelic)
Royal Coat of Arms used by the Monarch in Scotland
Flag of Scotland Royal Banner of Scotland
Incumbent John Swinney since 8 May 2024
Scottish Government Crown Estate Scotland Registers of Scotland
Status
Great Officer of the Crown in Scotland
Member of
Privy Council Scottish Government Scottish Cabinet
Residence
Bute House, Edinburgh, Scotland
Appointer
The Monarch
Term length
Whilst serving as First Minister
Formation
1389
First holder
Sir Alexander de Cockburn (1389–1396)
Unofficial names
Keeper of the Seal of Scotland Keeper of the Scottish Seal
Deputy
Jennifer Henderson, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland
Website
Registers of the Great Seal
The Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Neach-gleidhidh Seula Mòr na h-Alba) is the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, and one of the great officers of state in Scotland. The Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland is the incumbent First Minister of Scotland, formally the First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal, a role currently held by John Swinney since 8 May 2024.[1]
Under the terms of a royal warrant of 1818,[2] the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, the Lord Clerk Register, the Lord Advocate, and the Lord Justice Clerk are ex-officio Commissioners for the Keeping of the Regalia.[3] Since 1996, the commissioners have also been empowered by another royal warrant for the safekeeping of the Stone of Scone and for the arrangement of its return to Westminster Abbey for the next British coronation.[4]
The post was formerly known as Keeper of the Seal of the Kingdom of Scotland. The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland is the Deputy Keeper of the Great Seal, and ultimately responsible for its use. The Register of the Great Seal is the oldest national record in Scotland.[5]
^"John Swinney is sworn in as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
^"Scottish Regalia". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 1. United Kingdom: House of Commons. 26 March 1981. col. 395W.
^"Stone of Destiny to stay in Edinburgh Castle". The Herald. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
^"20 lesser known facts about the Stone of Destiny". Edinburgh Castle. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
^"Register of the Great Seal". ros.gov.uk. Registers of Scotland. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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