Glamis Castle – Memories of the Queen Mother
Anyone who has ever been in Scotland has seen an image of Glamis Castle: it features on the Bank of Scotland ten pound note. Glamis Castle is best known as the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth’s mother, the Late Queen Mother. In fact, the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret was born at Glamis. Set in the rolling hills of Angus, 20km from the North Sea, Glamis has been the family home and historic seat of the Bowes-Lyons, the ancestors of the Earl of Strathmore, since 1372. The castle has been extensively renovated over the years, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. The original tower house is at the center of the castle which now looks more like a French Chateau than a medieval fortress.
The castle has been the backdrop of many fictional tales and legends and has its share of ghost stories too. It is supposed to have more dark secrets than any other castle in Britain. Duncan Hall, in the oldest and eeriest part of the castle, is the setting for the slaying of King Duncan by Macbeth.
The garden of Glamis Castle takes on the hues of the season. The mile long avenue leading to the castle is ablaze with its borders of golden daffodils in spring. Azaleas and rhododendrons add to the brilliance in summer while the Italian Garden filly the air with its fragrance. A nature trail takes you along ther banks of the Glamis Burn while the Pineteum is mixture of formal gardens and natural landscape, a haven for wildlife.
The castle was thrown open to the public in1950 and is available for corporate events, weddings and private parties. There is a tea room and gift shop which stocks innumerable commemoratives. The incredibly beautiful castle has luxuriously furnished rooms. The Great Hall of yore is now the Drawing room and is filled with family portraits. The plasterwork of the magnificent ceiling is covered with the lions of the Lyon family, the thistles of Scotland, and the roses of England and is one of the finest in Scotland.
The Queen Mother’s sitting room, bedroom and the King’s bedroom make up the Royal Apartments, a private suite arranged by her mother for their visits to Glamis.
