Home to the Queen Mother, Birthplace of Princess Margaret, “One of the Most Haunted Palaces in the Country”, The Site of King Malcom II’s Murder and Shakespeare’s MacBeth: Thane of Glamis

A stunning 17th century Antwerp cabinet that reputedly stood in Glamis Castle, Angus, is to be sold at Bonhams in July. Glamis Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous sites, and is today best known for having been the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the birthplace of Princess Margaret, and for its role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The cabinet, which is made of tortoiseshell, ivory and bone inlaid rosewood and ebony, is expected to fetch between £7,000 “ 10,000 at Bonhams Sale of Fine Continental Furniture on 10 July 2007 at 101 New Bond Street, London.

Glamis Castle, which is illustrated on the Scottish ten-pound note, is steeped in history, perhaps more so than any other castle in Scotland. Today it is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and run by the National Trust for Scotland. It was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who married Prince Albert, Duke of York, who later reigned as George VI. Her daughter, Princess Margaret Rose, was born at the castle in 1930, and was the first royal baby in direct line to the British throne to be born in Scotland for some 300 years.

The castle is rich in legend and folklore, and is said to be one of the most haunted palaces in the kingdom. One of the best known stories is that of the “Monster of Glamis,” a hideously deformed child born to the family, kept in his rooms all his life which were bricked up after his death. Other commonly told tales include that of Earl Beardie, Lord Crawford, and the loss of his soul to the Devil whilst playing cards, and the burning of Lady Janet Douglas, wife of the sixth Lord Glamis (1489 - 1557), at the stake for witchcraft - the story goes that her ghost haunts the castle chapel, where she kneels in prayer before the altar.

Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter’

As Thane of Glamis, Shakespeare’s fictional account of Macbeth was perhaps rather different to his historical predecessor, but the names of Macbeth and Glamis will forever be linked. It is likely that the Bard himself vistited the castle when Elizabeth I sent him to perform to James VI in 1599, or at the very least was inspired by the tales he heard of the place, which would have doubtless included the death of King Malcolm II in 1034, the claiming of the castle as crown property by James VI in 1542, the afore-mentioned burning of Lady Glamis for witchcraft, and the visit of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1562.

Fine Continental Furniture and Works of Art
Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London
10 July 2007

Posted: 06|22|07 at 4:23 pm. Filed under: Press Release.