The Great Seal of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Seala Mòr na h-Alba) is a seal used by the First Minister of Scotland to seal letters patent signed by the monarch giving royal assent to bills passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Great Seal of Scotland is the principal national symbol of Scotland that allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually.
Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official. The earliest seal impression, in the Treasury of Durham Cathedral, is believed to be the Great Seal of Duncan II and dates to 1094.
The first minister of Scotland is the current Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and it is considered as one of the highest honours of the office of the first minister.
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