Duncan's Hall

Among the oldest and eeriest parts of the Castle, Duncan's Hall, like King Malcolm's Room, commemorates an historical event - the slaying of King Duncan by Macbeth. Although the killing took place near Elgin, this room is the traditional scene of the crime. The portraits are those of King James IV and his granddaughter , Mary Queen of Scots. The Queen visited Glamis on 22nd August 1562.

The Shakespeare connection can probably be explained by the following chain of circumstances. The play Macbeth was written for James VI after his accession to the throne of England, bringing with him Scottish courtiers and Scottish customs. While King of Scots only, James had befriended the 9th Lord Glamis and often visited Glamis Castle. When Lord Glamis married the daughter of Lord Tullibardine, the King allowed the ceremony to take place in the Palace of Linlithgow.

In 1603 Lord Glamis accompanie d his royal master to England and three years later the King elevated him to the earldom of Kinghorne. The Earl died in 1615. It is possible that Shakespeare heard stories of Glamis which he used as a fit setting for the grim tragedy of Macbeth. Contempor ary royal links can be found in The Royal Apartments.