Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
From today (May 16) until next Thursday (May 22), more than 100 sailors are involved in major ceremonial duties in Scotland’s capital – temporarily replacing some of the British Army soldiers of The Royal Regiment of Scotland who traditionally guard the castle and Royal residence in their iconic tartan kilts and Glengarry headdress.
Instead, the Royal Navy uniform will be on full show as the Senior Service march for the Arrival Parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, welcoming the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Lady Elish Angiolini, to the Scottish capital at the Ceremony of the Keys.
Musical accompaniment will be provided by Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. A Royal Gun Salute, with 105th Regiment Royal Artillery providing the Saluting Troop, will fire tomorrow (May 17) as the Lord High Commissioner sets out in Procession to the General Assembly.
Following the Ceremony of the Keys, the Royal Navy contingent will remain on guard duty at both the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle until next Thursday.
Warrant Officer 1 Glynn ‘Moffs’ Moffat, the Royal Navy’s State Ceremonial Training Officer, said: “It is a tremendous privilege and honour for the Royal Navy to be granted the unique opportunity, for the first time in history, to mount the ceremonial guard at both Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These men and women, having so proudly represented the Royal Navy during the VE Day commemorations, now carry that same sense of duty and pride into the heart of Edinburgh.
“This historic moment follows a remarkable period in which the Royal Navy took centre stage as the lead service at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – another proud chapter in our enduring relationship with the city and its traditions.
“As someone who served aboard HMS Edinburgh and had the honour of marching her ship’s company up The Royal Mile when we were granted the Freedom of the City in 2013, it’s incredibly special to return under such historic circumstances. It truly feels like coming home.”
The sailors have spent the past three days carrying out intensive rehearsals alongside their Army comrades at the hands of Army and Navy drill instructors at Redford Barracks on the capital’s southern outskirts to ensure they understood the intricate routines and movements needed for their duties.
The ceremonial Guard of Honour – drawn from across the Senior Service – were transferred from Portsmouth to Redford Barracks on Monday, before commencing public duties training on Tuesday.
A rehearsal took place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday, before a full-dress rehearsal for the inspecting officer of His Majesty’s Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Bob Bruce, yesterday. The officer passed the Guard of Honour fit for duties.
Brigadier Andrew Muddiman, Naval Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be in attendance on the Lord High Commissioner for the Royal Salute, denoting the appointment of Lady Elish Angiolini as The Sovereign’s Personal Representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, placing Her Grace only after The King and Queen in seniority for the period of Her appointment.
Brigadier Muddiman said: “The General Assembly week is an important fixture in the Scottish calendar, and I’m delighted that this year the Royal Navy is able to provide the ceremonial support, from the Ceremony of the Keys to the individual guard mounts at the Palace and Edinburgh Castle.
“It’s a privilege to be in attendance for Lady Angiolini as the Lord High Commissioner as she inspects the Guard of Honour and meets our young sailors. For some this will be their first time in Edinburgh, for others a welcome return to the City. This is an opportunity for the Royal Navy to showcase its ceremonial skill and precision to the people of Scotland, who will not be disappointed.”
Royal Marines have previously carried out duties in Scotland – the Royal Marine Reserves guarded Edinburgh Castle in 2012 and 42 Commando again were on parade in 2014 as the Corps marked its 350th anniversary.
The Sovereign’s appointment of Lady Elish Angiolini, who is of Irish Catholic heritage, is a reflection of the historic declaration of friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland, signed on 16 November 2022, St Margaret’s Day, at Dunfermline Abbey celebrating the 950th anniversary of that historic building.
The St Margaret’s Declaration was signed in the presence of HRH The Princess Anne by the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly, and the Most Revd Leo Cushley, Roman Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.