250 HMS Queen Elizabeth sailors parade the Freedom of Edinburgh on Royal Mile

Parade route and ceremony

The Lord Provost, Councillor Robert Aldridge, invited the ship’s crew and was accompanied by city officers and guests as the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland led the procession from the Palace of Holyrood, past the Scottish Parliament and into the City Chambers.

At the City Chambers the Guard, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Julian Caithness RN, was inspected by the Lord Provost and escorted by Captain Claire Thompson OBE RN, the ship’s Commanding Officer. The Lord Provost then addressed the assembled ship’s company, stressing the long-standing links between the Royal Navy and Edinburgh and noting a 13-year gap since HMS Edinburgh last paraded.

Following the speech the sailors continued to St Giles Cathedral where they saluted the Lord Provost, Captain Thompson and Naval Regional Commander Brigadier Andrew Muddiman ADC RM.

Ship’s recent activities and future plans

Captain Thompson said the Freedom parade was a great honour for the ship’s company and highlighted the recent docking period at Rosyth, which has helped the carrier return to war-fighting readiness. She is now preparing for a series of UK and overseas visits after taking on the role of NATO Afloat Command Platform, and expects to host aircraft on her flight deck again within the next few weeks, the first such operation in nearly two years.

The 65,000-tonne flagship left her home port of Portsmouth on 4 September 2026 to begin a programme of training around the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. Over the coming months the vessel, capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft, and its crew of roughly 800 sailors will conduct sea-trials, skill-building exercises and NATO-staffed operations.

Brigadier Andy Muddiman, Naval Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, welcomed the parade as a vivid illustration of the enduring bond between the Royal Navy and the capital. He reminded listeners that the previous HMS Edinburgh was affiliated with the city for three decades until her decommissioning in 2013, and that the new City-Class frigate currently being built in Glasgow will inherit the Freedom after it enters service after 2030. He also highlighted the historic maritime roles of Leith and Rosyth, noting that Rosyth Dockyard has recently supported HMS Queen Elizabeth and is constructing the Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates.