A Royal Affair
In 1372, Sir John Lyon was granted the thaneage of Glamis by King Robert II for services rendered to the crown. Four years later Sir John married the King’s daughter, Princess Joanna, and it is from this union that the current family descends.
Four hundred years later, the 9th Earl married Mary Eleanor Bowes and following an Act of Parliament the family surname changed from Lyon to Bowes. The name was changed in later years to Bowes Lyon.
The twentieth century brought further royal connections to Glamis with the marriage of Prince Albert, Duke of York, (second son of King George V), and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (youngest daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore). The marriage was very popular in Scotland and subsequently strengthened ties of affection between the nation and the Royal Family. Their younger daughter, Princess Margaret Rose, was born at Glamis in 1930 and was the first royal baby in direct line to the British throne to be born in Scotland for 300 years.
A Princess born at Glamis
The birth of HRH The Princess Margaret was much celebrated by the local people of Glamis. Applauding the arrival of a Princess, they built a huge bonfire on a hill above the village.
The Home Secretary attended the birth to verify the identity of this royal child. This was the last time that this ancient practice, presumably to prevent the illegitimate substitution of a potential heir to the throne, was practised.
Princess Margaret Rose’s elder sister Elizabeth (our present Queen) affectionately nicknamed her Bud, as she was not yet a fully-grown Rose!
Like most Princesses, ‘Bud’ had a nurse and a governess, and with her sister, was educated at home. She learned to ride, enjoyed swimming, and became a keen gardener.
After her father died in 1952, her elder sister was crowned Queen in 1953. Margaret led a rich and varied life, playing an active role in the Royal Family’s public work, supporting the Queen.
In 1960 Margaret married Anthony Armstrong-Jones. They had two children to whom Margaret was a loving and devoted mother; Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones.
Today Viscount Linley’s wonderful marquetry screen can be seen standing at the entrance to the Castle drawing room.
The Princess’s particular interests were in the broad field of welfare work, and in the arts. She was a patron or president of over 80 organisations, ranging from children’s charities to ballet companies.
When Princess Margaret died in February 2002, prayers were said at the Castle chapel and her many achievements remembered.
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