The last letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots is now on display at Perth Museum, having left the National Library of Scotland’s secure storage facilities for the first time in a generation. Written in the early hours of 8 February 1587, just moments before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle, this precious piece of history remains at Perth Museum until 26 April 2026. This marks the longest period the letter has been on public view in more than 20 years, and the first time it is displayed north of Edinburgh in modern history.

As part of the National Library of Scotland’s Outwith programme for its centenary year, the Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots is is now on display – but that’s not all. Just a short walk away at Perth’s AK Bell Library, visitors can now explore Mary’s legacy with a linked display of other National Library of Scotland treasures from Robert Burns and Liz Lochhead, both Scottish legends in their own right who were inspired by Mary’s story across the centuries. Visitors have a unique opportunity to view Mary’s legacy beyond her last letter, with a rare pop-up display of Burns’ poem Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots on the Approach of Spring and early manuscripts from Lochhead’s iconic play, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, both on loan from National Library of Scotland.

Mary spent considerable time in Perth and Kinross, and both her and her family have many links to this region. During her reign, she spent time at Huntingtower Castle and Edzell Castle. Most famously, she was held prisoner in Lochleven Castle for 11 months in 1567-8, where she finally signed her abdication from the throne before making a daring escape under cover of darkness. From there she made her way to exile in England, and would never see her homeland again. Perth is a fitting location to explore her last letter and legacy.

The National Library of Scotland’s OUTWITH programme has been kindly supported by The Gannochy Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and the NLS Foundation, as well as P F Charitable Trust, Stichting Teuntje Anna (TA Fund), The Ettrick Trust, William Grant Foundation, Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust, The Scottish Book Trust and by supporters of the National Library’s Centenary Appeal. The Perth component of OUTWITH was also generously supported by the Evelyn Ferris Mudie Trust and Perth and Kinross Council.