Glamis Castle, a majestic Scottish fortress with a pink facade, holds a special place in the history of the British royal family. Once the childhood home of the Queen Mother and a beloved playground for her daughter, the future Queen, it is one of the oldest royal residences in the country.
This episode, airing on Channel 5, explores the rich history, traditions, and myths surrounding this fairy-tale-like castle, which has been the family home of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families, including Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who would go on to become a pivotal figure in the modern royal family as the Queen Mother.
Featuring insights from former royal butler Paul Burrell and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the show uncovers the secrets of Glamis Castle and its influence on the worldviews and personal beliefs of both the Queen Mother and the Queen.
Made famous by Shakespeare as the setting for Macbeth, Glamis Castle also has a darker side to its story, as it was the site of a king’s murder. However, for one future monarch, Bertie Windsor (later known as George VI), Glamis represented a haven of peace and familial love. He married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and cherished the happy times they spent at Glamis, experiencing the simple and affectionate life that had been absent in his relationship with his father.
During World War I, Elizabeth witnessed the trauma of soldiers suffering from what we now know as PTSD and endured the loss of her beloved brother on the Western Front. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of the hardships faced by soldiers and civilians during World War II, helping to rekindle the nation’s love for the royal family.
Glamis Castle boasts all the grandeur one would expect from a Scottish baronial castle: a grand carved staircase, massive fireplaces, and heraldic beasts. It also has a reputation for its legendary ghosts, including Earl Beardie, doomed to play cards with the devil for eternity; the ghost of a page boy who froze to death; and the Grey Lady, a spectral apparition once impersonated by a young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon to frighten her sister.
Glamis Castle: A Royal Residence airs on Channel 5 at 8:40 pm on Saturday, 5 October 2024.
