A special ceremony is to be held in Glasgow to mark the start of Armed Forces Week.

The Armed Forces Day flag will be flown at the City Chambers from Monday morning.

Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren will join military personnel in George Square for the occasion at 10.30am.

This will be followed by a ceremony to observe the formal handover of the city’s affiliation from the Royal Navy Ship HMS Defender to the new HMS Glasgow.

HMS Glasgow is the first Type 26 frigate to be built for the Royal Navy and it is currently docked at BAE Systems’ yard at Scotstoun where the work to fit the ship out is being completed.

The Lord Provost, in her role as Lord Lieutenant, will welcome Brigadier Andy Muddiman from the Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland.

She said: "Glasgow City Council is a long-time supporter of the armed forces.

"We were the first local authority in Scotland to hold an Armed Forces Day and Glasgow is always keen to demonstrate its continuing commitment to our military personnel, past and present.

"Armed Forces Week is a way to show our appreciation for their work defending our freedoms and our values."

They will also be joined by Lt Col Rachel Emmerson Commanding Officer, Glasgow and Strathclyde University Officer Training Corps and a representative of the Royal Air Force.

The flag flying signals the city's forthcoming Armed Forces Day (AFD) which will be held in George Square on Saturday, June 24.

Brigadier Muddiman said: “Armed Forces Day is about recognising the important role our service personnel play in keeping our country safe and enabling the way of life we all enjoy as a result.

"I’m glad to be able to attend the Raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag here in Glasgow. It’s a reminder that next weekend, on 24th June, we are celebrating these efforts with a series of events across the UK.

"Giving the public an opportunity to meet serving members of the Armed Forces and find out a bit more about their work on behalf of the United Kingdom.”

Glasgow Times: HMS GlasgowHMS Glasgow (Image: Newsquest)

Commander Evans added: “HMS Defender has finally returned to her second home and affiliated city of Glasgow. A place that both I, and the ship’s Company are eager to visit and enjoy.

"Defender was, of course, built in Glasgow and we have a number of sailors who call this city home.

“Defender has been busy since her last visit, and it is testament to the engineering prowess of the shipbuilders here in Glasgow that we have completed missions all over the world, from the equator to the Arctic.

"We have a great reputation at home and with our allies, and it is in part due to the strong support we get from our affiliated city and organisations.

“We are very shortly proceeding to upkeep for a well-deserved rest and deep maintenance. Now, with HMS Glasgow taking form, we will formally hand over our affiliations to her.”

Commander Burgess, who is accepting the formal handover, said: “It is with great pleasure that the affiliation previously held by HMS Defender now fully passes to the 9th Royal Navy Ship which bears the name of the city.”