On 15 July 2026, Deputy Lieutenant George Barnsley represented the Lord Lieutenant at a Citizenship Ceremony held at the North Lanarkshire Council Civic Centre in Motherwell.

The ceremony was attended by the Provost of North Lanarkshire, Councillor Kenneth Duffy, and was organised and officiated by Claire Neil.

Nine new citizens, together with their families and loved ones, took part in the ceremony. They came from Bulgaria, Iran, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, and Zambia, reflecting the rich diversity of those who have chosen to make Lanarkshire their home.

It was a privilege to welcome our newest citizens and to celebrate this significant milestone in their lives. We extend our warmest congratulations and wish them every success, happiness, and prosperity as they begin this new chapter as citizens of the United Kingdom and members of the Lanarkshire community.

Many   congratulations to Mr and Mrs Bradshaw   from  Cambuslang   who  celebrated their  Diamond Wedding Anniversary  on 25th June 2026

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Many   congratulations to Robert and Grace Wright  from  Blantyre   who recently  celebrated their  Diamond Wedding Anniversary  .

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Following a tradition dating back to 1911, HM The King hosted his annual Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Tuesday 30 June. Accompanying the King were HM The Queen, HRH The Princess Royal and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Among the guests were those from all walks of life who selflessly serve our communities in Lanarkshire, often without public recognition.  Not one of them seeks the limelight but without their dedication, resilience and quiet heroism, our communities would all be the poorer without their front-line contributions.

A select few of the Lanarkshire contingent were presented to Members of the Royal Family. They included NHS staff and a football coach from Motherwell, SSAFA caseworkers from Lanark and East Kilbride as well as a business woman from Biggar.

Entertained by the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society and the Bands of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and HM Royal Marines Scotland, guests enjoyed afternoon tea and the chance to chat with other guests from across Scotland as well as to members of The King’s Body Guard for Scotland otherwise known as The Royal Company of Archers. Thankfully, the rain held off, helping to make the day all the more memorable for the right reasons.

Attached are some photos of attendees from Lanarkshire .

Many  congratulations to Kenneth and  Margaret Clark from  Motherwell   who celebrated their  Diamond Wedding Anniversary  on 1st July  2026.

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I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of retired Deputy Lieutenant John McKenzie, who passed away on Monday 29 June 2026, following a period of illness.

John was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Lanarkshire in 2011 and served with great distinction until his retirement in 2021. He was an exemplary Deputy Lieutenant: generous with his time, committed in his service, and always willing to go the extra mile.

John was the driving force behind bringing schools into Citizenship Ceremonies, working closely with Chief Executives, Directors of Education, Provosts, and Registrars from both North and South Lanarkshire to secure their support for this initiative. His vision and meticulous planning were also instrumental in establishing our schools’ public speaking competition and helping it grow into the success it is today.

Through his lifelong commitment to public service, John made a lasting difference to many lives, communities, and organisations across Lanarkshire and beyond. This included more than 30 years’ service as a respected police officer, his work with South Lanarkshire Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, and his dedicated contribution as a Deputy Lieutenant. He will be very sadly missed by all who knew him.

On behalf of everyone at the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy I  extend my  heartfelt condolences to John’s family and friends at this very sad time.

I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Provost Margaret Cooper, who passed away on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, following a lengthy illness.

Margaret will be remembered for her lifelong commitment to public service through social work and education, and for the outstanding contribution she made to local government and communities across South Lanarkshire as both a Councillor and Provost.

Despite the challenges of her illness, which she faced with remarkable courage, dignity and grace, Margaret remained steadfast in carrying out her duties as Provost. She also continued to champion new initiatives that raised significant funds for local charities, reflecting her unwavering commitment to serving others.

Margaret was a valued and much-appreciated supporter of the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy, and I had the privilege of working alongside her on many occasions, including Remembrance Services, Citizenship Ceremonies, Touch a Life, Make a Difference events, British Empire Medal Ceremonies and many other civic occasions. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel genuinely welcome and included, and that kindness and warmth will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

The thoughts and deepest sympathies of everyone at the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy are with Margaret’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.

Lady Haughey (Susan) CBE
Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire

Many  congratulations to Ian and Rita Simpson  from  Cambusnethan   who celebrated their  Diamond Wedding Anniversary  on 18th June 2026.

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