BESTSELLING author and historian Alison Weir will visit Traquair House and the Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature & Thought on Sunday, August 28.

During the events, she is set to reveal the story of Mary, Queen of Scots on her visit to Traquair House 450 years ago.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair, said of the upcoming talk: “I am absolutely delighted that Alison Weir will be visiting Traquair to give this talk. She is a highly respected historian on this period and will undoubtedly have some new insights on Mary and her relationship with Darnley as well as the role played by the 4th Laird of Traquair who was Captain of her bodyguard”.

Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley visited Traquair House during the summer following the murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio. 

This visit ended with an argument, and six months later Lord Darnley was assassinated in one of Britain’s most notorious unsolved murders. 

And this August, during the 450th anniversary year of this visit to Traquair House, Catherine Maxwell Stuart will introduce Alison Weir’s talk at the Beyond Borders International Festival, as she sheds new light on motivations behind the murder, including the extent of Queen Mary’s own involvement.

This talk comes as part of a series of events at Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, marking this 450th anniversary. 

Traquair is also currently showing an exhibition “The Queen’s Captain” exploring the relationship between the Laird of Traquair and Mary, Queen of Scots. 

This includes documents signed by Mary not usually on view as well as objects from Traquair associated with her visit. The exhibition will be on display until September 30.

The full Beyond Borders Scotland Summer Events Programme and Box Office is available online at http://www.beyondbordersscotland.com

Tickets: Weekend Pass £45, Day Pass £24, Individual Events £9, Walks and Cycle Rides £6. For more information, email info@beyondbordersscotland.com or call 0131 557 7775.