Made ‘Royal’ in 2010 to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the spectacular military show that takes place over three weeks of every August against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s ancient castle has become a national institution. More than that, it is truly international thanks to the performers from about 40 countries who have graced it over the years and to its audience members drawn from around the world.
The Tattoo is a decidedly different part of the Edinburgh Festival. Yet as with the thousands of comedians, actors, musicians and street artists who throng Auld Reekie during that great gathering the Tattoo first and foremost entertains. It is carefully choreographed; with one of the world’s great set designs behind it; includes fireworks; and is painstakingly rehearsed.
If the Tattoo is a national institution it is of course Scottish, the bagpipes being the dominant sound of the shows; icons like Robert the Bruce and William Wallace trotted out to stir up patriotic fervour; and enough tartan on display to keep several mills running year round. Scotland in this case embraces the sons of that land who emigrated during the Scottish Diaspora: to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA, South Africa and more besides. But the Scots are famed as warm-hearted hosts, so less-likely guest participants have included Swiss, Dutch, and Fijians.
The heart of the event is in the right place too, benefitting charities; and the audience’s heart-strings – not just on the Esplanade but in living rooms around the globe - are certainly played by the organisers: the Last Post; a lament played by a lone piper, and a march down the Royal Mile to conclude. And if anyone wonders about its part in the entertainment-fest that is Edinburgh in August: since the Millennium every ticket has been sold long before the event.
More British Institutions
Afternoon Tea
Allotments
April Fools Day
Big Ben
Binge Drinking
Black Cabs
Bonfire Night
British Sense of Humour
Brown Windsor Soup
Burns Night
Cadburys
Castles
Changing the Guard
City of London
Coronation Street
Cowes Week
Cricket
Crufts
Dad’s Army
E-Type Jag
Eccentricity
English Country Garden
Fish and Chips
Fish Fingers
Fox Hunting
Full English Breakfast
Gin and Tonic
Glastonbury
Glorious Goodwood
Grand National
Grouse Shooting
Harrods
Highland Games
Hogmanay
James Bond
John Bull
King Arthur
Land Rover
Lloyds of London
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Marks and Spencer
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Old School Tie
Oxbridge
Panto
Picnics
Pimms
Point-to-Point
Punch and Judy
Queueing
Real Ale
Red Arrows
Red Telephone Boxes
Remembrance Poppies
Robin Hood
Rolls Royce
Royal Ascot
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Savile Row Suits
School Discos
School Sports Day
Seaside Piers
Speakers’ Corner
Stag Nights
Stiff Upper Lip
Strawberries and Cream
Street Markets
Summer Festivals
Sunday Roasts
The Archers
The BBC
The Beano
The Boat Race
The Brass Band
The British Bobby
The Bulldog
The Church of England
The Cup Final
The Curry House
The English Rose
The Garden Shed
The Honours System
The Kilt
The Last Night at the Proms
The London Bus
The Mini
The National Trust
The NHS
The Oak
The Pub
The Queen’s Speech
The Rolling Stones
The Royal Christmas Message
The Spitfire
The V Sign
The Village Fete
The Weather
Travelling Fairs
Trooping the Colour
Village Greens
Wedgwood
Wellington Boots
Wimbledon
Wine Gums
Yeomen of the Guard
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