THE ROYAL SCOTS · THE ROYAL REGIMENT
Edinburgh Castle — The Ancient Fortress
For nearly four centuries, Edinburgh Castle has been inseparable from the story of The Royal Scots — the oldest regiment in the British Army, raised in 1633, and forever connected to the rock that towers over Scotland's capital.
A FORTRESS ABOVE THE CITY
Rising from an ancient volcanic rock at the heart of Edinburgh, the castle has dominated the city's skyline since the 11th century. It has been a royal residence, a military stronghold, a prison, and a place of national ceremony — and through all of it, a home to Scotland's soldiers.
For The Royal Scots, Edinburgh Castle is more than a landmark. The regiment's museum has been housed within its walls since 1961, and the castle's New Barracks — built in 1799 — have served as regimental headquarters for generations of soldiers.
From these walls, Royal Scots marched out to every corner of the world. And it is here that their memory is kept — in the museum, in the Honours of Scotland, and in the Scottish National War Memorial that stands within the castle precincts.
KEY MOMENTS
The Castle Through the Ages
1093
St Margaret's Chapel
The oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, St Margaret's Chapel was built by King David I in memory of his mother, Queen Margaret. It stands as a testament to the castle's extraordinary age and its place at the very heart of Scottish history.
1633
The Royal Scots Are Raised
Sir John Hepburn, under a Royal Warrant from King Charles I, raised 1,200 men in Scotland for service in France — creating The Royal Scots, the oldest infantry regiment in the British Army. Edinburgh Castle and the regiment have been bound together ever since.
1799
New Barracks Built
The New Barracks were completed within the castle to house 600 soldiers, replacing the cramped accommodation in the Great Hall. They became the regimental home of The Royal Scots and later the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
1927
Scottish National War Memorial
The Scottish National War Memorial was opened within Edinburgh Castle by the Prince of Wales, honouring the 147,609 Scots who died in the First World War. It remains one of the most moving war memorials in the world — and records the names of Royal Scots lost in every conflict, including those who died as FEPOWs.
1941–45
The Far East & the FEPOW Years
As the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots fell into Japanese captivity at Hong Kong in December 1941, Edinburgh Castle stood as the regiment's anchor at home. When survivors returned in 1945 — bearing the weight of the Lisbon Maru, the camps, and years of forced labour — the castle received them back as it always had.
1961
The Regimental Museum Opens
The Royal Scots Regimental Museum was established within Edinburgh Castle in the former regimental drill hall, built in 1900. It preserves the regiment's extraordinary history across nearly four centuries — including records, photographs, and artefacts from the Far East campaign.
THE REGIMENT'S CONNECTION
What Edinburgh Castle Means to The Royal Scots
Edinburgh Castle is not simply a backdrop to the story of The Royal Scots — it is woven into the fabric of the regiment itself, from its formation in 1633 to its amalgamation in 2006.
Regimental Headquarters
The New Barracks within the castle served as the regimental home of The Royal Scots for generations — the administrative heart from which soldiers were organised, trained, and dispatched across the world.
The Regimental Museum
Opened in 1961 in the former Royal Scots drill hall, the museum preserves nearly four centuries of regimental history — including records of those who served and died as Far East Prisoners of War.
The War Memorial
The Scottish National War Memorial within the castle records the names of Royal Scots lost in every conflict. It is a place of profound remembrance for the families of those who never came home from the Far East.
“For The Royal Scots, Edinburgh Castle was never simply a fortress. It was the beginning and the end of every story.”
— SCOTLAND FEPOW TRUST