As the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrates its 75th anniversary, the British Army will, as it did back in 1950, take on the prestigious role of lead Service before a global audience.
Forming the shape of ’75’ to represent the anniversary of the Tattoo, Massed Pipes and Drums makes their entrance to the 2025 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The Massed Military Bands of the 2025 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Formed from the British Army Bands Catterick, Tidworth, Colchester, The Band of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra.
The Dancers of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The Massed Military Bands of the 2025 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Formed from the British Army Bands Catterick, Tidworth, Colchester, The Band of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra.
Brigadier Jody Davis of 51st Brigade, and Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Bob Bruce arrive on the esplanade.
In 1949, as part of The Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama, 'Something About a Soldier' was performed in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens and was the inspiration for the Edinburgh Tattoo. The aim was to bring the Army’s contribution to the festival to life.
This year’s show, titled ‘The Heroes who made us’, will see some of ‘Our Heroes’ perform to a daily audience of over 8,000 people, drawn from all over the world.
Pipers, drummers and musicians from the Scots Guards, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Corps of Signals, British Army Bands Catterick, Tidworth and Colchester, The Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra and The Band of the Prince of Wales will perform on the world-famous Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
They will form the iconic Massed Pipes and Drums and Military Musicians, and will be joined by acts from all over the world, including the Band of the Polish Border Guard, Top Secret Drum Corps, United States Honour Guard Drill Team, Ukraine Naval Forces Orchestra and United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
"The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together the work of expert planning and support, with army musicians, all of whom are soldiers first, and a highly capable group of performers drawn from the Tattoo Company and friends and allies around the world."
Creative Director, Alan Lane, who is also an Army Reservist with 75 Engineer Regiment, is directing the Tattoo for the first time. He said:
“It’s thrilling to see the quality of the British Army musicianship on parade as part of the show. I am incredibly proud to be imagining the 75th anniversary show. So many of the skills that I learnt as a reservist in the Royal Engineers have been so useful in piecing together this huge, epic endeavour. I can’t wait to share it with audiences."
Rehearsals took place at Redford Cavalry Barracks, the home of 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, the Joint Military Command in Scotland.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended the final rehearsal at Redford in her role as Patron of the Tattoo. HRH became Patron in 2006 and in 2010 The Edinburgh Military Tattoo became The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Royal title bestowed by the Late Her Majesty The Queen.
Commander 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, Brigadier Jody Davies MBE said:
“The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together the work of expert planning and support, with army musicians, all of whom are soldiers first, and a highly capable group of performers drawn from the Tattoo Company and friends and allies around the world."
“This marquee event for Defence is an annual high mark for strategic engagement and unparalleled entertainment! It’s great to be part of it all again, and a privilege for the Army in Scotland to both have hosted our patron, HRH The Princess Royal, and to be the lead service during this landmark 75th anniversary.”
1st Battalion, The Royal Yorkshire Regiment will form the Guard of Honour for the VVIP guests and Salute Takers each evening.
A military tattoo takes place with clockwork precision and the term ‘tattoo’ derives from the 17th-century Dutch phrase do den tap toe (‘turn off the tap)’ - a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment’s Corp of Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that soldiers could retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour.
With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term ‘tattoo’ was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians.
Tattoo | noun | An evening drum or bugle signal recalling soldiers to their quarters.