The Secret of Glamis
One of Scotland's grandest castles is said to hide a secret room, and a secret told only to each heir.
What was reported
Glamis Castle, in Angus, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, has gathered more legends than almost any other house in Britain. The most famous says there's a hidden chamber, and a family secret passed to each heir on coming of age, which they never reveal.
Victorian visitors told of a room with no door, said to have been discovered when towels were hung from every window and one window had none.
Explanations offered
No secret room has been confirmed. Many of the stories date from the Victorian fashion for mysterious tales, and the castle's owners have generally treated them with good humour. Old castles, with thick walls, blocked-up rooms and centuries of rebuilding, make fertile ground for such legends.
- When
- Told since the 1800s
- Where
- Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland
- Witnesses
- Guests, staff and storytellers
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.