Tattoo sells out as Alex takes toast

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has sold out for the 14th consecutive year. All 215,100 available tickets were snapped up, generating £8.4 million at the box office.

The figures came after First Minister Alex Salmond acknowledged the Gaelic toast of Lone Piper Cpl Stuart Donald Gillies from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Edinburgh Castle. Garrison Sergeant Major Colin McCormack of the Royal Regiment of Scotland accompanied them.