On 1 July, His Majesty The King, Colonel in Chief of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, unveiled a new statue in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Regiment’s formation.
The bronze statue features a reclining lion guarding the Regiment’s cap badge, symbolising strength and vigilance. Created by Edinburgh sculptor Kenny Hunter, the statue rests on a plinth made of six stone sections, each representing one of the historic Scottish infantry regiments that came together in 2006 to form the SCOTS.
The day was marked by a spectacular parade through the heart of Edinburgh, as the Regiment exercised its Freedom of the City. Marching in full ceremonial dress, with drums beating, bayonets fixed, and colours flying, the parade set a memorable scene for this important milestone.
The parade included a Colour Party and ceremonial guards from each battalion, veterans of the SCOTS Association, and the regimental mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV. Music was provided by The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Regiment’s Pipes and Drums.
Major General Robin Lindsay CBE, Colonel of the Regiment, who accompanied His Majesty during the ceremony, reflected on the significance of the day: “Today is a proud moment in the history of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Exercising the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh is a great opportunity to affirm our connection with the city and its people.
“We are incredibly grateful to the city for allowing us to raise this statue in Princes Street Gardens, right in the heart of Scotland’s capital. It will be a rallying point for the Regiment, a place for members of the regimental family and the public we serve to gather, to celebrate and to commemorate.”