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1923 Steinway grand pia- Then there’s the legend
no, including one showing of the “Monster of Gla-
Laura Bush posed with the mis,” which was circulat-
Strathmore family when ed for years. Apparently
she visited the castle it began when Lord and
during the G8 Gleneagles Lady Glamis, the Queen
Summit in 2005. Mum’s great, great
grandparents, had a
We also toured a three- baby, Thomas Bowes-Ly-
room suite in the royal on, who died on the
apartment—the Sit- day he was born in Oct.
ting Room and King and 1821. For years, howev-
Queen’s Bedrooms. This is er, there was speculation
one of the oldest parts of that he was really hor-
the castle, dating from the ribly deformed and was
15th century, and these kept hidden in a small
private rooms were used room off the castle’s
by the Queen Mum since Chapel, fed through a
her 1923 marriage; she grilled gate by a servant.
and King George VI spent
part of their honeymoon But perhaps the most
here. After the king died chilling tale is that of
in 1952, she used primari- Lady Janet Douglas,
ly the Sitting Room. wife of the 6th Lord
Glamis. She was falsely
“She didn’t like to have accused of being a witch
anything changed and it’s and burned to death in
pretty much the same as 1537. Since then peo-
it was since her wedding ple believe that it's her
93 years ago,” noted our ghost occasionally seen
guide. Until their deaths, here, garbed in gray.
she and Princess Marga- Dubbed the “Gray Lady,”
ret visited the castle a few times a year. The Sitting Room she’s been known to pop up in the Chapel, praying. Complet-
is warmly furnished with comfortable armchairs and a sofa, ed and consecrated in 1688—with richly colored religious
Chippendale chairs, family photos (including charming black- panels on the ceiling and paintings on the walls—the Chapel
and-white ones of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret is still used by the Strathmore family today.
as children), 18th century tapestries, and a carved oak chim-
neypiece displaying Dutch and Chinese porcelain. However, visitors are told to knock three times before enter-
ing so they don’t frighten the Gray Lady—or get frightened
And in this room is where the ghost of a little, mischievous themselves!
pageboy has been noticed sitting atop a small stone seat just
inside the door! Above: Vintage poster featuring Orson Welles and Glamis
Castle.
The Queen Mother’s Bedroom has a four-poster bed, with a
quilt made by her mother, Countess Strathmore, who also Photos courtesy of VisitBritain Images, WIKI Commons, and
embroidered the padded canopy with the names of her ten Sharon Whitley Larsen
children and their birth dates, including the Queen Mum’s.
IF YOU GO
In Duncan’s Hall—one of the oldest and eeriest areas of
the castle—the slaying of King Duncan by Macbeth is com- For more information--and regarding activities throughout
memorated, although the actual killing took place near Elgin. the year, as well as tours--please see:

“Macbeth” was written for King James VI by Shakespeare, www.glamis-castle.co.uk
who may have heard stories about Glamis Castle and used it
as a setting in the play. www.visitscotland.com

“There’s no historic link between Glamis and Macbeth,” said www.visitbritain.com
our guide. “Shakespeare gave them great publicity!”
www.britrail.com

50 Wine Dine & Travel 2016