Jacobite letters go on display for first time at Blair Castle
The stunning piece of Scottish history, which dates back to the early 18th century, was previously stored in the archive
Keren Guthrie, archivist, with the ‘idiot’ letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie
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Bonnie Prince Charlie letter branding military strategist an idiot is discovered IT is a letter in which Bonnie Prince Charlie calls out his military strategist for his advice which could have changed the future of the Stuart dynasty. As the historic Blair Castle reopens its doors today a stunning piece of Scottish history will go on show for the very first time. To mark the reopening of the Perthshire castle for the first time this year, visitors will be able to absorb themselves in Blair Castle’s Jacobite Exhibition: A Family at Divided.
Read more: Amidst all the conflicts of the Jacobite Rebellions, Bonnie Prince Charlie calls his loyal supporter and an acknowledged military strategist Lord George Murray, brother to the Duke of Atholl, an “idiot” for his advice – advice that could have changed the fortunes of the Stuart line.
Newly-uncovered archives show how Bonnie Prince Charlie dismissed advice that could have transformed his family’s fortunes, by calling his supporter an “idiot”.
He called his loyal supporter and an acknowledged military strategist Lord George Murray, brother to the Duke of Atholl, an “idiot” for his advice about calling a war council.
The accusation was made in a letter recently uncovered in the Blair Castle archives in Perth and Kinross, in which the Young Pretender dismisses the call.
Keren Guthrie, the castle archivist, said: “When I discovered the letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie, I just went ‘wow’.
“Here is a letter of the 1740s that could have been written now. It gives that sense of a disagreement between real people, which we can all understand.
Discover the remarkable women behind a historic Perthshire castle
Blair Castle reopens to the public this week
Updated
Sarah Troughton admires a portrait of Viscountess Cowdray
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Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice An iconic Perthshire castle has highlighted the role women have played in its history.