Audiences at Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia enjoy a surprise performance by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Members of The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines graced visitors at Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Britannia with a surprise performance lead by Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace OBE, who retires this year after over 35-years’ service.

Nick Grace who served as a musician on Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia will retire from the Royal Marines at the end of 2017 as the nation’s senior military musician after more than three decades of service - of which the last eight and a half years have been as the Principal Director of Music Royal Marines.

Nick first joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1982 playing Euphonium and Cello, and has conducted bands on numerous recordings including with major record companies such as DECCA and SONY.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace commented: “The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia both hold many memories for me.

"I have had the great pleasure of performing at three Tattoos over the years, and hold many memories of performing on the former Royal Yacht of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II - when it was in service- from 1953 – 1997.

"It’s an honour to be back and I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to play onboard one last time before I retired as the Principal Director of Music Royal Marines.”

The Band was in Scotland’s capital performing at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the world’s longest running military tattoo.

The Tattoo celebrated the theme 'Splash of Tartan' this year, paying tribute to the UK's rich maritime heritage and Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.

More than 1,200 performers took part each evening, including the UK's best military acts and international contingents from France, India, USA and Japan.

Nick Grace has regularly conducted at national and international events including:

• The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2011, 2014, 2017 and its tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2016
• The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Muster and Jubilee Pageant at Windsor
• The Jubilee River Thames Pageant in 2012
• ITV’s BAFTA winning live broadcast celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday at Windsor
• The 2015 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony at Twickenham
• The World War 1 Centenary commemorations for Gallipoli at the Cenotaph
• The 70th Anniversary ‘Victory in Japan’ on Horse Guards Parade
• The 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland in Orkney.