WAS THIS THE BOX THAT SEALED MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS’ FATE?
The silver casket, believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. Few objects in Scottish history have inspired as much speculation, literary reference, and scholarly debate as the letters it is said to have contained. Image copyright National Museums Scotland.
16.4.25
The silver casket behind 450 years of intrigue to go on display in Stirling for first time
A rare and intricately crafted silver casket, believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots, will be displayed at The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum from 1 May to 31 August 2025. Closely associated with one of the most dramatic episodes in Scottish history, the object has long fascinated historians and the public alike — entwined with scandal, power struggles, and the downfall of a queen.
On loan from National Museums Scotland, the late 15th or early 16th-century French casket has been said to be the container for the so-called “Casket Letters” — documents used to implicate Mary in the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley. Whether genuine or forged, the letters became a turning point in Mary’s fate, and the silver box that may have held them remains one of the most compelling artefacts in Scottish history.
This is the first time the casket has been shown in Stirling — at The Smith Museum located close to Stirling Castle, where Mary spent part of her childhood and held court as queen.
The exhibition brings the object into direct dialogue with the landscape of Mary’s life, offering a rare opportunity to view this extraordinary piece of material history in a place woven into her story.
Coinciding with a wider programme of refurbishment at The Smith, the exhibition will see the casket displayed at the centre of Gallery Two in a bespoke, conservation-grade case. The main interpretive exhibition will be staged in the museum’s reception hall, with a new retail space and an exhibition of work by Dorothy Black located in Gallery One.
Caroline Mathers, Director of The Stirling Smith, said:
“We’re thrilled to be the only central belt venue for this remarkable object, which holds such cultural and emotional power in Scotland’s story. There’s something extraordinary about standing in the presence of an object believed to have been touched by the hands of Mary, Queen of Scots. It becomes more than a casket—it becomes a witness. Our exhibition explores both the myth and the material, inviting new generations to ask questions, form connections, and consider how the past still speaks to us.”
“This loan has allowed us to think more creatively about how we use space and share our collections as well as push forward with long-term plans such as developing our retail offer. The Stirling Smith is always evolving —and we hope this exhibition will be a turning point not just for the museum, but for how Stirling’s own story is told.”
Caroline Mathers, Director of The Smith Museum and Art Gallery in Stirling, in Gallery Two.
Dr Anna Groundwater, Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland said:
“One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been venerated as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries, and I’m delighted that visitors to The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum have the opportunity to see it up close. Beyond its connections to one of Scotland’s most famous figures, it is a rare and spectacular piece of historic silver in its own right. This highlight loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared with museums across Scotland.”
From 1 May 2025, The Stirling Smith will present one of Scotland’s most scrutinised artefacts— just a short walk from the castle that shaped Mary’s early life.
The casket was acquired for the nation in 2022 for £1.8 million thanks to support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, the Scottish Government and several trusts, foundations and individual donors.
This loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland. Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
A media pack containing images and video is available here.
For media enquiries, contact: Lee MacGregor, Mitchell MacGregor Agency, 07801 286005, lee@mitchellmacgregor.agency
An education programme developed with Historic Environment Scotland will run in parallel, engaging schools and families with the enduring intrigue and human drama of Mary’s story.
The project is supported by £25,000 in funding through the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation, which enabled the museum to commission the bespoke case from Click Netherfield — internationally recognised for their museum-quality engineering and security. The design allows the object to be viewed up close while meeting the exacting standards of object conservation.
Additional support came from Museums Galleries Scotland, which funded refurbishment work in Gallery One and the reception area, and from National Museums Scotland, which contributed to the interpretation and marketing programme.
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum
The Stirling Smith is a cultural institution dedicated to the arts, heritage, and social history of Stirling and its people. Founded in 1874, it has grown to become one of Scotland’s most distinctive regional museums and continues to play a vital role in connecting local audiences with national collections and historic narratives.
Website: https://www.smithartgalleryandmuseum.co.uk
National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe and it looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display. Website: https://www.nms.ac.uk
Casket acquisition press release
Mary, Queen of Scots – Context and Significance
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587) remains one of the most compelling figures in Scottish and European history. A queen at six days old, her life was marked by dynastic ambition, love, betrayal, and eventual execution. The casket displayed in this exhibition is believed to be connected to the so-called Casket Letters—used in her political downfall.
Mary, Queen of Scots – further reading:
The Controversial Letters Associated with Mary, Queen of Scots Casket
