Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance: 12 pictures as military veterans lay wreaths in Princes Street Gardens

Edinburgh’s Garden of Remembrance has been opened with wreaths and tributes after the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2026 launched earlier this week.

Veterans, members of the armed forces and dignitaries joined the city’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge to pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces on Saturday morning.

Wreaths were laid during the Service of Dedication in Princes Street Gardens, attended by representatives of all three branches of the armed forces and veterans’ organisations.

Reverend Dr Karen Campbell, national chaplain of Royal British Legion Scotland, led a short service of remembrance, with readings by the Lord Provost and Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock, president of Royal British Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland.

Music was provided by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The event marked the launch of the Scottish Poppy Appeal earlier this week, which took place at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh with the help of a young “superstar” volunteer.

Ava Mitchell, 11, is Poppyscotland’s youngest volunteer and she has supported the campaign since she was five.

The campaign raises funds to support the armed forces community in Scotland.

The youngster, from Glasgow, gives up her free time to collect money outside her local supermarket with her auntie Amanda, whose father Alan served in the forces.

The appeal was also launched with the help beneficiaries of the charity, including Sylvia Ibie, 53, of Glasgow.

The former RAF radiographer, who served in Iraq, is a recent Poppyscotland beneficiary who called upon the charity after finding herself homeless and sleeping on a church floor in Paisley with her 16-year-old daughter last year.

Ms Ibie previously told the Press Association: “I just know I am alive today – I’m actually still breathing – because of Poppyscotland.”

The launch of the Scottish Poppy Appeal will see volunteer collectors hitting the streets and supermarkets across the country over the coming weeks in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday in November.