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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Iona Young

Edinburgh's FLY Open Air in Princes Street Gardens cancelled due to Operation Unicorn

Edinburgh's popular FLY Open Air music festival was set to return to Princes Street Gardens on September 16-18 but has now been cancelled after discussions with the council due to Project Unicorn events across the city over the next 12 days.

The dance and techno festival was going to be held at its 'beloved' Edinburgh Castle backdrop for the tenth instalment, having previously occupied the site at Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry. Due to Her Majesty’s body coming to Edinburgh many locations across the city centre are closed.

READ MORE - The Queen's corgis 'will be looked after by her children' after her death

The Ross Band Stand and Princes Street Gardens where FLY is held is included in that so there was no option but to cancel the festival. All customers will be given a refund.

Writing on Instagram the organisers said: "Unfortunately we have been forced to cancel FLY Open Air due to Operation Unicorn in Edinburgh.

"While we are disheartened with this decision we also understand and respect the instruction from Police Scotland & Public Safety given the Queen’s passing.

"To explain the situation to our customers: The Queen will be brought to Edinburgh tomorrow for 4 days of mourning with Operation Unicorn seeing large parts of the city closed. This includes - The Ross Bandstand & Kingstables Road which is our access route for building the event & now no longer possible to use."

They added: "All ticket holders will be able to request a refund in due course as we work through the situation with our insurers having already begun the site build. Details on this will be posted next week.

"After having battled the pandemic it seems things don’t get any easier but we’ll be back stronger and united in May.

"NB our afterhours events next weekend will still go ahead & feature a number of acts from the festival playing both Cabaret Voltaire & The Caves on Friday, Saturday & Sunday."

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Following a rare announcement on Thursday September 8 that doctors were "concerned" for the Queen's health, she was placed under medical supervision. Royal Family members rushed to join her at her side, including son King Charles III and grandson Prince William.

A statement from the Royal Family announcing the monarch's death read: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

You can find all of the latest information following the death of Her Majesty here.

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