Stunning embroideries play a major part in highlighting the splendour of the 16th century Scottish court., as visitors to our refurbished Renaissance royal palace will find out at Stirling Castle Presents – A Palace Fit For a Queen on 4th and 5th June.

Taking pride of place in two of the most important rooms of the sumptuously furnished and decorated royal apartments, the Queen’s Bedchamber and the Queen’s Inner Hall, are two glorious cloths of estate bearing the heraldry of James V’s French queen, Mary of Guise.  Crafted by an incredibly skilled team of embroiderers led by Scottish textile expert Professor Malcolm Lochhead, who was responsible for the historically authentic designs, these feature symbols of significance including a royal crown, red lion rampant and the Cross of Jerusalem, flanked by eagles and unicorns.

        

Painstakingly creating their beautiful handiwork over the course of many months means that the talented embroiderers feel a close connection to their heraldic beasts – so much so that they give them names.  In this case, the unicorns in our majestic new cloths of estate are Adam and Nicola, after two young friends of Professor Lochhead, Adam Stump of Bridge of Weir and Nicola Stewart of Paisley. 

Before the spectacular embroideries were hung in the palace, the children got a chance to meet their namesakes.  The two proud 9 year-olds happily introduced the Adam and Nicola unicorns to their own toy unicorns, with Adam bringing along Daisy and Nicola, Sparkle.

      

And if you book now to come along to the palace’s grand opening, you’ll also be able to meet Adam and Nicola – the unicorns that is!

Matthew Shelley, Stirling Castle Communications