Elgin-born officer is made member of the Queen’s household
Castle governor makes first inspection
Published:
An Elgin-born Army officer has made his first inspection of troops in his new position as governor of Edinburgh Castle.
Major General Andrew Mackay, 52, who commanded a Scottish brigade in a landmark operation in Afghanistan, was born in Elgin and started his career with the Royal Hong Kong Police, where he served for more than three years.
As a lieutenant colonel he was in charge of planning for Nato operations in the Balkans and was deployed to Bosnia for a year. He has also served in Kenya, Jordan and Cyprus.
Most recently, the father-of four commanded the Edinburgh-based 52 Infantry Brigade and led the Helmand taskforce in Afghanistan from October 2007 to April 2008. The highlight of the tour was recapturing a strategic town called Musa Qala from the Taliban, for which he was made a CBE.
On Friday he was installed as the governor of Edinburgh Castle in a ceremony conducted by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, making him a member of the Queen’s household in Scotland.
Previous castle governors include King Charles II in 1651 and the Duke of Cumberland in 1747.
Maj Gen Mackay, who lives in Edinburgh, was promoted to major general earlier this month and now commands the Army in Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. He said: “I am very honoured to be installed as the governor of Edinburgh Castle,” he said.
