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Alex Salmond was buried in a private funeral service near his home in Aberdeenshire
Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a "political genius" at his memorial service in Edinburgh.
Family, friends and supporters gathered at Edinburgh's St Giles' Cathedral following his sudden death on 12 October.
Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia.
The St Andrew's Day service included tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers.
Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira.
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Alex Salmond's wife, centre, watched on as tributes were paid to her late husband at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh
The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending.
First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister went to the service, as did Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone.
Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown, actor Elaine C Smith, football pundit Michael Stewart and businessman Jim McColl were among the other guests.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who had a public fallout with Salmond in the years after she succeeded her ex-mentor as SNP leader, did not attend.
She was at the funeral of comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning, but said her thoughts were with Salmond’s family and friends
She described it as “a very sad day for them but one that I hope will allow them to remember Alec in the way they want to”.
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First Minister John Swinney and other political leaders attended the service
Salmond's service was led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Mr Whyte said that the ex-first minister's life had “challenged the status quo”, adding: “He called people to a cause in which he believed and for which he would endure the slings and the arrows.”
Salmond's niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill shared their memories of the former SNP leader.
Ms Hendry described her uncle as a “political giant” and “dearly loved” family member.
MacAskill called him a “political genius”, while Mr Hamilton recalled him as a "leader of courage, vision and intelligence”.
Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond's, read a passage from John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”.
Dougie MacLean sang Caledonia, while The Proclaimers expressed their "eternal gratitude" to Salmond before performing Cap in Hand, with the lyrics: "I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand."
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Singer Dougie MacLean was among the guests at St Giles
Salmond was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014. He stepped down after the Yes campaign lost the Scottish independence referendum.
He resigned from the SNP amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Those later formed the basis of a criminal trial at the end of which he was acquitted of all charges.
Salmond went on to set up the alternative independence-supporting party, Alba. He also hosted a talk show on the Russian-owned television channel RT.
You can watch the Memorial Service on BBC iPlayer.
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