Princess Royal unveils final addition to The Royal Scots Monument
On Saturday HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of The Royal Scots Regimental Association, unveiled a bronze medallion containing a figurehead of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a final addition to The Royal Scots Monument in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
The monument, originally unveiled on 26 July 1952, commemorates the service rendered by The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) to 16 monarchs from its founding in 1633 under a Royal Warrant from King Charles I until its amalgamation under Defence Review in 2006. The additional medallion marks the final monarch under whom the Regiment served.
Her Royal Highness, accompanied by The Right Honourable Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge was met by the Chair of the Regimental Trustees, Brigadier (retd) George Lowder, MBE, and by the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Robert Bruce, CBE, DSO.
The unveiling was attended by many former Royal Scots and their families as well as members of The Royal Scots Club and representatives of The City of Edinburgh Council. A service of dedication was conducted by Reverend Dr Iain May, Chaplain to The Royal Scots Regimental Association.
In 2007 The Princess Royal, who was the Regiment's Colonel in Chief from 1983 until 2006, graciously unveiled an addition to the monument to mark the Regiment's amalgamation, the final chapter in its history, and to acknowledge and commemorate the Regiment's 373 years of proud and loyal service to Crown and Country.
After the unveiling, Her Royal Highness then spent time with former members of the Regiment before leaving for The Royal Scots Club in Abercromby Place where The Princess Royal took the salute at the Club's annual ceremony of Beating Retreat.
Brigadier George Lowder, Chair of the Regimental Trustees, said: 'The Royal Scots have always been, and continue to be, very proud of their long service to Crown and country which is commemorated on this monument.
'Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the last Sovereign under whom the Regiment served, appointed HRH The Princess Royal to be Colonel in Chief of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983. We have been greatly honoured, therefore, that The Princess Royal, whose long and continued connection with the Regiment we cherish, has unveiled this final addition to our monument today.'
HRH The Princess Royal unveils the final addition to The Royal Scots monument in Princes Street Gardens
HRH The Princess Royal unveils the final addition to The Royal Scots monument in Princes Street Gardens
HRH The Princess Royal unveils the final addition to The Royal Scots monument in Princes Street Gardens accompanied by George Lowder and The Rt Hon Lord Provost
HRH speaks with the Chelsea Pensioners who were in Edinburgh for the occasion
HRH The Princess Royal unveils the final addition to The Royal Scots monument in Princes Street Gardens accompanied by Brigadier George Lowder and Reverend Dr Iain May
HRH The Princess Royal sharing a joke in Princes Street Gardens
See all the photos from the Beating Retreat here.
Beating Retreat © 2025 Martin McAdam
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