The Duke of Rothesay & The Duke of Cambridge attend The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Published

This was the first time Their Royal Highnesses have attended the event, held each August in the Scottish capital.

Last night, The Duke of Rothesay and The Duke of Cambridge attended The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. The Duke of Rothesay (the title The Prince of Wales adopts when in Scotland) was this year's Guest of Honour.

The Royal Edinburgh Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed ForcesCommonwealth and international military bands held at Edinburgh Castle. The evening also includes artistic performances from across the world.

The first Edinburgh Tattoo took place in 1950. Since then, 48 countries from across six continents have been represented at the Tattoo.

The word ‘tattoo’ comes from the closing-time cry, ‘Doe den tap toe’ (‘Turn off the taps’), heard around inns in the Low Countries during the 17th & 18th centuries.

Now The Royal Edinburgh Tattoo is set up and run for charitable purposes and over the years, it has gifted some £8 million to service and civilian organisations.

More than 14 million people have attended The Royal Edinburgh Tattoo since it began. The event has sold out for 18 years in a row – and to this date, has never been cancelled.

In addition to attending the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle, Their Royal Highnesses watched a short pre-Tattoo performance on the Forecourt at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and met several of the performers.

Find out more about Holyrood week 2017 here

Related content

News

Commonwealth Day 2022

14 March 2022
News

Royal Tour to Jordan and Egypt

19 November 2021
News

Remembrance 2021

11 November 2021
News

#PoWNatureChallenge

15 February 2021
News

Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

27 January 2021