The Dining Room

After entering the Castle through the small north door the visitor will see a wide stone staircase leads up to the first room of the tour, the Dining Room. The entire wing in which this room is situated was demolished in 1775 and rebuilt in 1798-1801. The Dining Room was designed later by the Hon. Thomas Liddell, great-grandson of the 8th Earl of Strathmore, in 1851 -53. The centrepiece of the room is the elaborate fireplace with its massive oak armorial overmantel bearing the carved arms of the 12th Earl of Strathmore. The table is laid with china, cutlery and glass used by the 13th and 14th Earls. The silver nef, or ship centrepiece, was presented to the 13th Earl and his Countess by estate tenants to celebrate the couple's golden wedding in 1903.

In the sideboard alcove are two full-length portraits of this Earl and his wife Frances Dora, nee Smith. To the right is another full-length portrait of Charlotte Grinstead, widow of Lord Glamis (son of the 11th Earl), and mother of the 12th and 13th Earls. To the left of the fireplace is Patrick Lord Glamis, the Queen Mother's eldest brother who became 15th Earl in 1944. He is in the uniform of a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards. Among the other family portraits in this room are those of the present Earl of Strathmore by Andrew Festing, painted in 1991, and a charming conversation piece showing the Drawing Room with the 14th Earl and Countess (the parents of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother).

The history of the family is told in this room by means of heraldry. All round the walls are wooden shields showing the family alliances and the stained glass shows the evolution of the Strathmore arms which were changed again in 1937.

The Glamis lion is made of brass and based upon one of the family's heraldic supporters. It was a Golden Wedding present to the 13th Earl and Countess from their children, and there is a grandfather clock given to them by their grand-children on the same occasion. The ceiling is adorned by the thistles of Scotland, roses of England and lions of the Lyon family. This room leads to The Crypt.