Mary Queen of Scots

[sara14]

I am just doing some research and was trying to find out if the wedding ring which Mary Queen of Scots gave to Lord Darnley has ever been found and, if so, where it is? What would be the value of such an item?

[Peter_Martin]

I am not sure. I would have thought that it was buried with him.

In any event when Mary Queen of Scots escaped to England in 1568 she left a good many items of jewellery behind in Holyrood Palace. Her illegitimate half brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray sold large quantities of Mary's jewellery to Elizabeth I of England. (Elizabeth I often protested that she did not agree with anointed Monarchs being deposed as Mary was. However, this did not give her any qualms about buying the jewellery!)

I am not sure what happened when Elizabeth I received the jewellery. If any of the pieces still remain in the possession of the present Monarch is not known to me.

[HM_Shawn]

Originally Posted by Peter_Martin

I am not sure. I would have thought that it was buried with him.

In any event when Mary Queen of Scots escaped to England in 1568 she left a good many items of jewellery behind in Holyrood Palace. Her illegitimate half brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray sold large quantities of Mary's jewellery to Elizabeth I of England. (Elizabeth I often protested that she did not agree with anointed Monarchs being deposed as Mary was. However, this did not give her any qualms about buying the jewellery!)

I am not sure what happened when Elizabeth I received the jewellery. If any of the pieces still remain in the possession of the present Monarch is not known to me.

I posted the link for some guy looking for her ring. No my grandfather has the ring . I think due to us being Royal Stuarts.

[Polwarth]

For the OP

According to some reports that I have seen, Mary was given three rings at her wedding to Darnley - the middle one with a diamond in the centre.

The following is copied from www.jkent.com

"The history of the ring bearing the arms of England, Scotland and Ireland, (and which is said to have been produced in evidence at the trial of the unfortunate Mary as a proof of her pretensions to the crown of England,) is curious. It descended from Mary to her grandson Charles the First, who gave it on the scaffold to Archbishop Juxon for his son Charles the Second, who, in his troubles, pawned it in Holland for three hundred pounds, where it was bought by Governor Yale; and sold at his sale for three hundred and twenty dollars, supposed to the Pretender. Afterwards it came into the possession of the Earl of Ilay, Duke of Argyll. It was ultimately purchased by George the Fourth of England, when he was Prince Regent. This is sometimes called the Juxon ring.


It appears by Andrews's continuation of Henry's History of Great Britain,(P. 184, (note.)) that Mary had three wedding rings on her marriage with Darnley: "She had on her back the great mourning gown of black, with the great mourning hood," (fit robes for such a wedding!) "The rings, which were three, the middle a rich diamond, were put on her finger. They kneel together and many prayers are said over them," etc., etc. Rings of Mary of Modena have been mistaken for those of Mary of Scotland."

(Emphasised text refers)

[SherbrookeJacobite]

Originally Posted by Polwarth

"She had on her back the great mourning gown of black, with the great mourning hood," (fit robes for such a wedding!)

In many instances a mourning gown (or suit) is more appropriate wedding attire than white dresses and tuxedos.

[Polwarth]

Haaahhhaaaaa - VERY funny! Over here many men wear kilts when they marry or in MORNING suits (plus top hats - I kid you not) - so you're not far wrong... and, we don't have 'tuxedos' - we have dinner suits!

[SherbrookeJacobite]

I believe the original request from Sara was what happened to the ring given to Lord Darnley by Queen Mary.

She now has the answer, given to us so graciously by HM_Shawn. His grandfather has the ring, because they are Royal Stuarts.

I am curious Shawn - through what line of descent you come? (I just know I'm going to be sorry I asked!)

The Royal House of Stuart became extinct in the male line with the death of Henry (IX) Stuart, Duke of York, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Bishop of Frascati, in 1807. He had succeeded his elder brother, Charles (III) Stuart, sometimes known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", in 1788, on the latter's death without legitimate issue (he left one illegitimate daughter, Clementina, who also died without issue). Both were the sons of James (III), Prince of Wales, only son of James II, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, (illegally) deposed as King of England and Scotland on 10 Dec 1688, and as King of Ireland six months later, who died in exile in 1701. With the death of Cardinal Henry of York, representation of the House of Stuart passed to Charles Emmanuel of Savoy, King of Sardinia. The latter's present heir is Franz, Duke of Bavaria.
from: http://www.chivalricorders.org/royal...asy/stuart.htm

I realize there are other legitimate descendants - the current Royal family, descended from James I, being among them.

Just curious.