Preparations are underway for next year’s Armed Forces Day event in Inverness.
The focus will be on a gathering at the traditional flag-raising ceremony outside Highland Council’s headquarters on Monday, June 19.
The city’s 2016 Armed Forces Day parade was scrapped, with the local authority providing alternative arrangements which proved controversial with servicemen’s relatives and Royal British Legion officials, who accused the council of “disrespect”.
The official Armed Forces Day is June 24 but it has been agreed to move it to an earlier date to avoid clashing with the European Pipe Band Championships in Forres.
Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael presented the council’s proposals to Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB, CBE president of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and members of the Inverness branch of the organisation.
It was previously agreed that council and legion officials would meet representatives of the Armed Forces and Regimental Associations in January to consider ways to enhance the event.
Provost Carmichael said: “We are very grateful to Sir Alistair Irwin and his colleagues for reviewing and supporting the council’s proposals for next year.
“We are looking forward to working in partnership with the Royal British Legion Scotland both locally and nationally in the months ahead to finalise the arrangements.
“For the moment our focus is on next month’s Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday events and the delivery of our expanded Winter Festival programme; but we are expecting final details to be available early in the new year.”
Mr Irwin said: “The armed forces community, serving and veterans, very much appreciate the support and encouragement of the council and the people of Inverness.”