17-05-2025
Rutherglen soldier reveals unique Edinburgh castle cermeony
Private Aaron Cameron of 5 SCOTS, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was part of the historic installation of the new Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
His unique role saw him stationed above the castle's drawbridge to verify the identity of Lord Lyon, the Governor's representative.
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Private Cameron and Second Lieutenant Henry Sutton were just two of the soldiers on duty at the ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Within one day, they had swapped their ceremonial uniform for combat gear and prepared for deployment to Lithuania for Exercise Iron Wolf.
Private Cameron said: "I've never seen the view from that part of the castle before.
"It was something different and interesting – I've not done anything like it."
Once the ceremony concluded at 7.30pm, the soldiers returned to barracks to initiate the rapid shift from kilts to combat.
Private Cameron said: "Even though we do both of them, they are very different experiences and require a very different mindset.
"But you kind of just get back into the swing of it."
Second Lieutenant Sutton said: "We finished the parade at 19.30 - then returned to barracks and began the switch straight away.
"The kit you don't need for ceremonial duties is already packed.
"Weapons go straight to the armoury for checking before being boxed up to go to Lithuania, and the No.
"1s come off and go back on the racks."
Exercise Iron Wolf is set to see 5 SCOTS working alongside a Lithuanian Battle Group in a validation training exercise organised to strengthen NATO cooperation and battlefield readiness.
Second Lieutenant Henry Sutton, who has served in the battalion for over two years, said that what might seem like a dramatic shift to outsiders is just a standard part of the job for soldiers in The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
He said: "The ceremony is physically and mentally demanding, but it also builds the discipline we use on operations.
"If you can look after your kit in barracks, you can look after it in the field.
"If you can follow orders on the parade square, you can follow them on deployment.
"These are professional soldiers.
"They do both – and they do both very well.
"That's why we can turn around in 24 hours, sometimes less and be ready for either.'
As it stands, even with the 5 SCOTS in Lithuania, their ceremonial uniforms are prepped and ready should the call come again.
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Second Lieutenant Sutton added: 'The No.1s are back on racks, prepped and hanging.
'Should we need to rush back from Lithuania for some sort of event – we'd be ready.
"That's just how it is.'
