National Library of Scotland
Rosemary Goring on one side and on the other the book cover for "Exile". There is a medieval painting in the background.

What was life really like for Mary, Queen of Scots during her long imprisonment in England?

Author Rosemary Goring explores Mary's dramatic final years in this illustrated talk.

From her arrival in England in 1568 to her execution in 1587, Mary lived as a prisoner of her cousin, Elizabeth I. Using recent scholarship and newly decoded letters, this talk reveals how Mary actively plotted and influenced politics from within her prison walls.

Rosemary will explore the psychological pressures of her captivity and the complex political world she navigated.

About the speaker

Rosemary Goring was born in Dunbar and studied at the University of St Andrews. She is a former literary editor of 'Scotland Sunday', 'The Herald', and 'Sunday Herald', and is the author of two historical novels — 'After Flodden' and 'Dacre's War'.

You may be interested in

The last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots

Read about the emotional farewell from a queen who claimed martyrdom and a rightful crown.
Close-up of Mary's last letter, written in French and showing her signature.

Robert Burns and the Glenriddell Manuscripts

Talk
22 January 2026, 5:30PM to 6:30PM
Robert Burn's Glenriddell Manuscript open showing the title page and portrait of him.