A specially commissioned flag for the second Armed Forces Day arrived in dramatic style in Edinburgh.
The Golden Lions parachute display team brought the banner into the capital's Holyrood Park this morning before it was taken up to the City Chambers to be raised ahead of Saturday's event.
Thousands of serving personnel and veterans are expected to parade from Edinburgh Castle to Princes Street Gardens on Saturday as towns and cities through Britain honour those who have served their country.
The flag is based on the Union Flag and will simultaneously be raised in towns and cities across Britain in advance of Armed Forces Day.
Last week TV presenter Lorraine Kelly highlighted the day, which sees a number of events taking place across Scotland on June 26.
At the launch, which saw her flying by Navy helicopter from RAF Leuchars to Glasgow, she said: "Armed Forces Day is great because it is a chance for all of us to say thank you to all of the services, and just say 'we really appreciate all that you do for us' and 'thank you very much.'
IN DETAIL
Events taking place include a parade throught the old town in Edinburgh, a parade of service staff, veterans and cadets and a flypast in Aberdeen's Union Street, along with entertainment and military displays in Glasgow's George Square.
Armed Forces Day takes place in the shadow of events in Afghanistan, where the death of a Marine takes the total number of deaths of British services personnel to 300 as a result of the the conflict.
British military personnel are serving in Afghanistan as part of a Nato led force, with over 9,000 currently in the country, the majority in the southern Helmand province.
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