Edinburgh Tattoo: When is it, how to watch on TV, and which royals could attend?
As The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returns, fans are wondering how to watch it, how to get tickets, and which royal guests might attend


The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022 will return this Friday after a two-year hiatus – here's everything you need to know about the Scottish musical extravaganza.
- The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022 returns to Scotland this evening for the first time since 2019, much to the excitement of music lovers in the UK and beyond.
- Princess Anne attended rehearsals for the highly-anticipated music and culture festival, which dates back to 1950, on Thursday evening.
- In other royal news, Prince William's 'realization' over the one thing he 'can't get away with' - but the Queen can.
Music lovers rejoice, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is finally back.
The historic concert series returns to Edinburgh Castle this weekend after two years of Covid-19 cancellations, much to the delight of concert-goers and creatives in the UK and beyond.
This year's show, titled Voices, will see over 900 entertainers from all over the world take to the historic venue for three weeks of spoken word, song, music, and dance. Preparations for the entertainment gala have already been approved by Princess Anne, who traveled up from Gatcombe Park on Thursday to watch the final rehearsals for the opening performance.
When is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022?
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022 takes place between Friday, 5 August, and Saturday, 27 August, at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Just a mile's walk from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the 11th-century site is expected to host tens of thousands of concert-goers over the next month. The first performance of the spectacle will kick off at 9 pm tonight, with two more scheduled for Saturday.
When will the Edinburgh Tattoo be on TV?
It's not yet been announced when the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022 will be broadcast on TV - but in previous years, coverage has run at the end of August on BBC.
In previous years, BBC One has aired a special program on the music festival's highlights at the end of August for fans who missed out on tickets. While TV listings have yet to indicate if this will be the case for 2022, event organizers have already confirmed that some performances will be filmed.
In the meantime, you can get your Edinburgh Tattoo fix by watching last year's tribute show to the iconic series, Celebrating 70 Years, on BBC iPlayer. You can also find updates on the Royal Edinburgh's Military Tattoo YouTube channel.
How to get tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo
Tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are still available, but spaces for the first several shows are limited – so it's best to act fast. You can purchase up to 8 tickets, which range in price from £30 to £95, on the official website. If you want to book more than 8 tickets, you'll need to call the event's Box Office number.
Which royals could attend the Edinburgh Tattoo?
It remains unknown which royals could attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, but with Princess Anne already in Scotland for its rehearsals, it's possible she'll also be present at its opening act.
Unsurprisingly, there is nothing to suggest that the Queen will attend the Edinburgh Tattoo 2022. Despite her nearby location at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish highlands, Her Majesty is highly unlikely to make an appearance at the festival due to her ongoing health issues. (For those of you wondering, the Queen's last visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo dates back to 2002, the year of her Golden Jubilee).
Royal fans shouldn't get their hopes up to see Prince William and Kate Middleton at the concert series either. The couple has had a busy week attending the Commonwealth Games 2022 in England, and are reportedly even preparing to move into the new home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor before the school term begins.
The Duke of Cambridge joined Prince Charles for his first ever appearance at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2017, but has yet to return to the event since.
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Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
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