Opening of the Scottish Parliment
Actor Sean Connery received a rapturous reception at the official opening of the Scottish
Parliament - which he called "the most important day in his life".
Connery, 68, turned out in full highland dress to mark the occasion. Crowds cheered the veteran actor and his wife
Micheline as he arrived at the Edinburgh parliament.
He said: "Today is a momentous day for Scotland. We've waited 300 years for this, and it can't be more momentous
than that."
The Scottish National Party supporter was the biggest celebrity to attend the ceremony, after Billy Connolly, Robbie
Coltrane, Ewan McGregor and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson declined their invitations.
But Connery excused their absence, saying: "I'm sure they've got very good reasons."
He left the building with SNP leader Alex Salmond to more cheers from the crowd.
The former James Bond star, who is currently promoting his latest film Entrapment, said at a press conference on
Wednesday night the ceremony was something he has eagerly awaited for 40 years.
Sean Connery: Realising a dream
He added that while the parliament had got off to an inauspicious start, he hoped it would now show Westminster
the correct way to govern a country.
He said: "I am not a particularly patient person but for myself it has been nearly 40 years and I think it
will certainly be the most important day in my life tomorrow.
"What is wonderful is we have 60 odd years seeing how it shouldn't be done and how to learn from everything
that has gone wrong for everything else.
"I hope that the people who are making it happen are as enthusiastic as I am."
