Sailors from the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth paraded up the Royal Mile on Friday in front of hundreds of onlookers.
The sailors from the enormous aircraft carrier were invited by the city’s Lord Provost to march up the High Street “with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed”.
The members of the crew were accompanied by the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland as they marched from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the City Chambers.
The march delighted visitors, locals, who were taken off guard at the last minute event, the full details of which were only disclosed yesterday.
The members of the crew were accompanied by the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland as they marched from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the City Chambers.
The sailors from the aircraft carrier had been invited by the Rt Hon Lord Provost, Cllr Robert Aldridge to exercise their freedom of the city. The right is to march up the High Street “with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed”.
The Freedom of the City gives the crew of the aircraft carrier – currently patrolling Northern European and UK waters – the right to march without prior permission from the council – though police did provide a hastily arranged escort.
The ship’s company formed a Guard at the City Chambers led by Lieutenant Julian Caithness RN, escorted by HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer, Captain Claire Thompson, OBE, RN where they were inspected by the Lord Provost.
The Lord Provost said:“What a memorable day for the capital as we celebrate the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The parade was a spectacular sight as the regiment exercised its privileges to parade through the City of Edinburgh with “drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed” before the thrilling F-35 flyover.
“Her crew’s most welcome presence today has firmly closed a thirteen-year gap since their predecessors HMS Edinburgh last paraded here. We greatly value our connection with HMS Queen Elizabeth and His Majesty’s Armed Forces with many service units, personnel, families and veterans based and living in our city.”
After his address, the sailors marched onwards to St Giles’ Cathedral where they saluted the Lord Provost, their Commanding Officer, and the Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland, Brigadier Andrew Muddiman ADC, RM.
Captain Claire Thompson, Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: “We have taken the opportunity to exercise HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Freedom of the City of Edinburgh which is a huge honour the ship’s company inherited from the former HMS Edinburgh.
“This event involves our ship’s company marching through the city in our best ceremonial uniforms, which symbolises the strong links we have with Edinburgh strengthened recently by our docking period in Rosyth.
“We are proud to return now that the ship is well on its way to recovering warfighting readiness and on our generation pathway to very high readiness duties.”
Captain Thompson continued: “This is the first in a series of UK and overseas visits after we assumed the role of NATO Afloat Command Platform. Our first period back at sea has been spent conducting sea trials, building skills and experience, and operating with the NATO staff embarked.
“We now look forward to welcoming the aircraft back to our flight deck in the next few weeks for the first time in nearly two years as we continue to develop.”
Brigadier Andy Muddiman ADC Royal Marines, Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland said: “It’s hugely gratifying to see sailors from HMS Queen Elizabeth parading on the Royal Mile, demonstrating the enduring link the Royal Navy has with the City of Edinburgh.
“In these challenging times I think it’s important to remind everyone that this is their Royal Navy, made up of men and women who hail from towns and cities across the UK and who represent that bond of friendship which connects us all”.
In the next few months HMS Queen Elizabeth will continue planned operations in the UK and Northern Europe while the crew of 800 sailors undertake training for future operations.
The Freedom of the City was held by HMS Edinburgh which was decommissioned in 2013.
The freedom is now held by the HMS Queen Elizabeth while the future HMS Edinburgh, an anti-submarine frigate currently being built at BAE Systems in Glasgow, is constructed.
The ship will not enter service until after 2030 and meantime HMS Queen Elizabeth holds the affiliation demonstrating the links between the capital and the Royal Navy, with its two nearby ports of Leith and Rosyth.
Rosyth supports Royal Navy vessels and it is where HMS Queen Elizabeth was recently docked. The new Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates are being constructed by Babcock International at the site – HMS Venturer and HMS Active were rolled out of Rosyth’s Assembly Hall last year and earlier this year respectively. Three more ships, the HMS Formidable, Bulldog and Campbeltown are in construction.
During the event there was also a fly-past – albeit 20 minutes late – by an F-35 Lightning stealth fighter, which often launches from the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier.
