A castle, a princess, and a moment of royal history for Scotland

Tucked into the rolling Scottish countryside is one of the UK’s most romantic homes: Glamis Castle. Its turrets rise from a patchwork of fields and woodland like something out of a fairy tale, the kind of place children imagine when they first hear of kings, queens and dragons. For centuries it has been the seat of the Bowes Lyon family, but Glamis holds a particularly special place in royal history. It was here that Princess Margaret was born on 21 August 1930.

The royal baby who made history

At the time, no one could have predicted the twists of fate that would make her elder sister, Elizabeth, the future Queen. Yet Margaret’s arrival at Glamis was, in its way, a modern royal first. She was the first royal baby born in Scotland in more than 300 years, and the press of the day recorded the occasion with delight, noting the castle’s long history and its picturesque setting.

For the Bowes Lyon family, Glamis was not simply an ancient stronghold but a beloved family home. Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, later known to the world as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, had spent much of her youth here, roaming the castle’s echoing corridors and gardens with her siblings. When she married Prince Albert, Duke of York in 1923, Glamis remained her haven, a place to retreat from the formality of court life in London. It seemed only natural that she would return there to give birth to her second child.

A castle steeped in legend

The castle itself is steeped in legend. Its origins stretch back to the 14th century, though the present fairy-tale façade was shaped in later centuries. Shakespeare chose it as the setting for Macbeth, though the play’s bloody intrigues bear little resemblance to the real history of the Bowes Lyon family. Still, whispers of ghosts, hidden rooms and ancient secrets swirl through the castle. Visitors speak of the “Grey Lady” said to haunt the chapel, and of a mysterious bricked-up chamber known only to the Earl of Strathmore and his heir.

Royal First: Princess Margaret was the first royal baby born in Scotland in over three centuries.

Fairy-Tale Roots: Shakespeare chose Glamis Castle as the setting for Macbeth – though the real history is far less murderous!

A Family Secret: Tradition says only the Earl of Strathmore and his heir know the truth of Glamis’s mysterious hidden chamber.

Against such a backdrop, the arrival of a healthy royal baby in 1930 must have seemed a ray of light. Margaret Rose was a much longed for second child for the Duke and Duchess of York and a brand new granddaughter for King George V and Queen Mary. For the people of Angus, it was an extraordinary brush with royal history – their own castle, their own countryside, forever linked with the birth of a princess.

Princess Margaret’s fabulous royal story

Princess Margaret would grow up with a reputation for sparkle and vivacity, a striking contrast to her dutiful elder sister. Margaret was just six when the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, put her own father on the throne as King George VI. While Elizabeth, then ten, began to learn the responsibilities of the Crown, Margaret often embodied glamour and modernity, admired for her fashion sense, her wit, and her independent spirit. Yet those who knew her best always remembered her Scottish roots – the fondness she felt for Glamis and the childhood summers spent wandering its expansive grounds.

Today, Glamis Castle remains open to the public, its rooms lovingly preserved and its history proudly shared. Visitors can stroll through the drawing rooms where the Bowes Lyons entertained, admire the family portraits, and step into the very chamber where Princess Margaret first opened her eyes to the world. Outside, the gardens unfold in wide lawns and ancient trees, a setting that still feels alive with stories.

Born: 21 August 1930 at Glamis Castle

Parents: The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother)

Known for: Glamour, wit, music, and her striking fashion sense

Fun fact: As a child, she was nicknamed “Margot” by family and close friends.

Nearly a century after that summer’s day in 1930, Glamis continues to enchant. Its walls hold the echoes of medieval battles and royal celebrations, of whispered legends and real-life fairy tales. And for those who pause in the small room where a princess once slept in her cradle, there is a sense that history, in all its grandeur and intimacy, is never as far away as we think.