The new cap badge of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

The move would allow the regiment to march with bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying.

Freedom of the city was granted to the Gordon Highlanders more than 50 years ago and the council feels the move is needed for the new regiment.

It will be discussed at a meeting of the city council next Wednesday.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland was created by the controversial merger of Scotland's six army regiments into one.

Army chiefs said the changes were needed to ensure commitments could be met in the 21st Century.

No inheritance

Aberdeen City Council said on Friday that the freedom would enable the regiment to march through the city on Saturday 1 July after returning from Iraq.

A report to the council says that the freedom of the city was granted to the Gordon Highlanders in 1949.

It adds: "Since then, there have been successive army restructurings that have resulted in the Gordon Highlanders ceasing to exist as a separate entity, and the subsequent formation of more recently the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

"The council has received intimation of the desire of the Royal Regiment to march down Union Street on 1 July in exercise of the rights conferred on the Gordon Highlanders in terms of the Freedom granted to them.

"Officers are of the view that there is no automatic right of inheritance by the Royal Regiment of the freedom granted to the Gordon Highlanders.