Accompanied by the First Minister of Scotland, Jack MacConnell, they looked at the fortifications, the Royal Square and the castle’s Grand Hall.
The former residence of the Scottish monarchs is now a National Military Museum whose exhibits include a portrait of Russian Emperor Nicholas II (by Serov) who was granted the title of the honourary chief of the Royal Scottish Dragoons Regiment by the British Queen Victoria in 1894. Featured prominently in the exhibition is a bell from the British cruiser The Edinburgh, which guarded the Arctic convoys to Murmansk during the Second World War.
The guests admired a panoramic view of Edinburgh from the castle’s battery area located 135 meters above sea level.
Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin then watched the performance of Highland Dancers.
From the Edinburgh Castle the Russian President’s motorcade headed for the Signet Library.