ROSEMARY Goring and Clare Hunter will be talking to Geoffrey Baskerville at the Beyond Borders International Festival 2022 at Traquair House on Saturday 27th August, in a session which promises to reveal fascinating insight into the Scottish years of Mary, Queen of Scots, her tumultuous journey and time spent living and embroidering in Scotland, and her captivating connection to Traquair House.

In this event, Rosemary Goring will discuss her book, Homecoming: The Scottish Years of Mary, Queen of Scots, and tell the story of Mary’s Scottish years through the locations and settings that shaped her life, including Traquair House.

Joining Rosemary is Clare Hunter who offers a fresh and original perspective of the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. In her cultural biography, Embroidering Her Truth, she combines history, politics and memoir to reveal how Mary incorporated textiles and fabric to advance her political agenda and affirm her royal lineage.

As a royal hunting lodge Traquair has played host to twenty seven Scottish Kings and Queens but the monarch with the closest association to Traquair was Mary, Queen of Scots.

The 4th Laird of Traquair, John Stuart, was named the Captain of the Queen’s bodyguard in 1565 and the Stuarts of Traquair remained loyal to the Stuart monarchy for many centuries thereafter.

In August 1566, the Laird invited Mary and Darnley to Traquair and she brought with her, James, her baby son who was only 3 months old.

The house still contains many items related to the queen including her bed and the cradle where she rocked her infant son later to be James VI of Scotland and I of England and her rosary and crucifix.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21 st Lady of Traquair House, noted “We are thrilled to welcome back Rosemary Goring to Traquair House, where she carried out research for her book Homecoming: The Scottish Years of Mary, Queen of Scots, and to hear from Clare Hunter about Mary, Queen of Scots’ embroidery which people can see at Traquair itself”.

Audiences will be able to watch the event on Saturday 27th August from the idyllic grounds of Traquair House at the Beyond Borders International Festival 2022.