What is the Scottish Seal?

HUMZA Yousaf is on the cusp of becoming first minister with MSPs set to cast their vote on who they want to lead the country later on Tuesday.

But if he is voted in, he will also be given the title of Keeper of the Scottish Seal.

So what is the history behind the Scottish Seal?

What is the Scottish Seal?

The seal – otherwise known as the Great Seal of Scotland - allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each one individually.

By being Keeper of the Scottish Seal, Yousaf – if he becomes FM – will have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Crown.

It is considered one of the highest honours of being first minister.

The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland is the Deputy Keeper of the Great Seal, and is in practice responsible for its use.

What does it look like?

One side of the seal features the reigning monarch, while the other depicts the Royal Arms as used in Scotland.

Second Great Seal of Anne, 1707, commemorating the union with Scotland. (Image: Getty)

When it is not being used, you can go and see it in the public exhibition at the National Records of Scotland Meadowbank House office in Edinburgh.

The history

The Lord Chancellor of Scotland used to have custody of the King’s Seal prior to Scotland joining the UK.

The Act of Union in 1707 abolished the Great Seal of Scotland, appointing instead a different seal to be used in relation to documents that had, up to that point, usually passed the Great Seal. In practice this replacement seal is also referred to as the Great Seal.

The continuation of a seal was guaranteed by the Treaty of Union which provided that “a Seal in Scotland after the Union be always kept and made use of in all things relating to private Rights or Grants which have usually passed the Great Seal of Scotland, and which only concern Offices, Grants, Commissions, and private Rights within that Kingdom".

The Scotland Act 1998 refers to the current seal as “the seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be kept and made use of in place of the Great Seal of Scotland.”

Section 12 of the Treason Act 1708 makes it treason in Scotland to counterfeit the seal.