Want to find out more about a safer drug consumption facility for Edinburgh?
Come along to our drop in sessions – the first one is next week.
• Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG on Thursday 14 May from 1pm to 5pm and Thursday 28 May from 5pm to 8pm
• Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, EH1 2QA on Tuesday 9 June from 1pm to 5pm and Tuesday 16 June from 5pm to 8pm
National Theatre of Scotland presents
Through the Shortbread Tin
Written and performed by Martin O’Connor
Remount directed by Joanna Bowman
Original production directed by Lu Kemp
With Josie Duncan and Iona Mairead
Musical Director and Composer – Oliver Searle, Sound and Video Designer – Rob Willoughby, Set and Costume designed by Emma Bailey and Rachel O’Neill, Lighting Designer – Michaella Fee, Gaelic Consultant – Alasdair Whyte
At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from 7 to 31 August at 4.45pm with a preview performance on 6 August 2026.
Opening press performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 7 August 2026 at 4.45pm.
Part of the Made in Scotland Showcase
The story of the greatest literary hoax of all time.
Returning to the stage following a critically acclaimed and award-nominated Scotland-wide tour in 2025, Martin O’Connor’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show, performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, which explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity.
“Fierce, Funny and Challenging” The Scotsman ★★★★
“an entertaining and intelligent investigation into the illusions and inconsistencies of Scottish history, culture and identity.” The Stage ★★★★
“A tartan wrapped gift of a show” The Herald ★★★★
Through the Shortbread Tin will open in Edinburgh at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Made in Scotland Programme at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Friday 7 August 2026.
Twenty years since the internationally acclaimed production of Black Watch premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Through the Shortbread Tin marks National Theatre of Scotland’s 42 productions at the Edinburgh festivals, including last year’s Edinburgh International Festival sell out success, Make It Happen.
Through the Shortbread Tin is remounted for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe by Joanna Bowman, whose previous productions include the award-winning Tron Theatre Company production of Escaped Alone; Doubt: A Parable (Dundee Rep) and most recently, Sweat (Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh). Joanna won the 2024 CATS Award for Best Director.
In 1760 Scottish poet James Macpherson set the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian. This tartan-trimmed tale of Highland history spread far and wide, capturing the imagination of thousands– but was it built on a deception?
In 2026 Scottish poet Martin O’Connor decides to revisit Macpherson’s epic and begins to question his own relationship with Scottish culture. The sporrans, the stags, the shortbread – do these ‘gift-shop’ images of Scotland hold us back or bring us forward? What does it mean to be authentic, and is the truth sometimes better told in a lie?
Imagine that you were telt tae ignore the myths?
Imagine you didnae know anything about the country you came fae?
But imagine you started askin questions?
Imagine that you could jist replace wan myth wi another?
Martin will be joined on stage by Josie Duncan and Iona Mairead, distinctive Gaelic choral singers, singing original songs composed by Oliver Searle.
Audiences are invited to join Martin and Macpherson on an oral odyssey spanning centuries of Scottish history, exploring the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves.
A tour to sited venues in Scotland in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland will be announced at a later date.
Through the Shortbread Tin was nominated for Best New Play in both the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2025 and the UK Theatre Awards 2025.
Through the Shortbread Tin is part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s 20th birthday programme, marking twenty years of game-changing theatre.
National Theatre of Scotland is delighted to be part of the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 20th anniversary celebrations, as well by being part of their specially curated Festival Fringe programme, the centre piece of their year’s anniversary offering.
BACKGROUND TO OSSIAN
In 1760 Highlander Macpherson published Fragments of Ancient Poetry to great critical and commercial acclaim. The poems were collected from oral sources around Scotland and were presented as the work of a third century bard, Ossian, soon dubbed The Homer of the North. There soon followed two other publications, Fingal and Temora, and together they set the Scottish and European literary world alight. The ‘Ossian effect’ soon saw a rise in interest in Scottish and Highland ways of life and an increase in tourism and cultural interest. The impact of Ossian was immediate and permanent, even if the individual poems eventually fell out of fashion. But soon after publication, debates over Ossian’s aesthetic and moral ‘legitimacy’ surfaced, which plagued the writer and the impact and legacy of the work.
Martin O’Connor is an award-winning theatre-maker, performer and poet from Glasgow. He is interested in exploring ideas of voice and identity through theatre and poetry, with particular interest in Scots, Gaelic and verbatim. Martin won Scots Performer of the Year Award at the Scots Language Awards 2024.
He was granted a Gavin Wallace Fellowship in 2018, hosted by Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and the Lyceum Theatre, marking the first stage in his research into James Macpherson and Ossian.
He makes work for solo performance as well as with, and for, other people. He was the National Theatre of Scotland Writer in Residence in 2020. Previous projects include Turntable (MJ McCarthy/Red Bridge Arts), Mark of the Beast (Martin O’Connor/Platform), Togail Nàisean/ Building a Nation (Glasgow Life).
This remount of Through the Shortbread Tin is directed by Joanna Bowman. Joanna has directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Citizens Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Tron Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Perth Theatre, and Òran Mór. Previous productions include the award-winning Tron Theatre Company production of Escaped Alone, Doubt:A Parable (Dundee Rep) and most recently, Sweat (Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh). She was Associate Director of the Tron Theatre between 2022 and 2025 and is Associate Artist with the Citizens Theatre. Joanna won the 2024 CATS Award for Best Director.
The original production of Through the Shortbread Tin was directed by Lu Kemp, a theatre director and dramaturg with a distinctive reputation for her work in new writing. Lu was Artistic Director of Perth Theatre between 2016 to 2023. Her tenure was notable for supporting the creation of new work by Scottish artists and community engaged productions. As a freelance director, Lu has worked for The Citizens, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Artangel, London, The Tricycle, Almeida and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Josie Duncan is a folk-inspired songwriter and award-winning singer from the Isle of Lewis. Her songs have been showcased worldwide from the Hebridean Celtic Festival Opening Concert to the National Celtic Festival Australia. Josie’s music features in National Theatre of Scotland’s Carry Me Home – A Ferry Tale, an award-winning short film directed by Seth Hardwick.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Dates: Thursday 6 August (Preview); Friday 7 August to Monday 31 August (no shows on Wed 12, Sat 15, Wed 19, Wed 26 August)
Time: 4.45pm
One Hundred Voices interactive installation opens at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics 2026 before touring Scotland alongside the Ten Portraits photographic exhibition, as part of Caring Scotland
One Hundred Voices and Ten Portraits at the Scottish Parliament from 12 to 28 August and during the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics 2026 on 27 and 28 August
Then touring across Scotland from 2 September to 10 October 2026: Citizens Theatre, Studio Theatre and exhibition wall; Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries; Millenium Centre, Stranraer; Reid Hall, Forfar; Hall B, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.
A National Theatre of Scotland project in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland, funded with an award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Lead Artist and script by Nicola McCartney
Designer - Karen Tennant, Lighting Designer - Kai Fischer, Sound Design - Niroshini Thambar and Dramaturg - Roxana Cole
Artist Facilitators: Kevin Gilday, Jo Mango, Roxana Cole, Sara Shaarawi and Mal Fraser
Ten Portraits Exhibition Photographer - Chris Scott
Opening in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament and part of the Festival of Politics in August 2026, One Hundred Voices is an interactive installation responding to real life stories of care experienced people.
The stories were recorded for Caring Scotland, a three-year listening project, led by acclaimed playwright Nicola McCartney documenting and recording the lives of care experienced people in Scotland.
One Hundred Voices is created by a leading team of Scottish artists and theatre-makers with design by Karen Tennant, lighting design by Kai Fischer, sound design by Niroshini Thambar, script by Nicola McCartney and dramaturgy by Roxana Cole.
“Good. You’re here. Well, come on in… We understand that for many of you, this journey will be a new experience for you. We want you to feel safe with us.”
The audience is led through the installation by an audio guide. Each room presents an intimate landscape of memory, resilience and imagination, drawn from the lives of one hundred voices from Scotland’s care experienced community. Fragments of stories unfold through sound, light, and space.
This interactive installation transforms oral history into artistic encounters and asks the audience to imagine together a more compassionate Scotland where every child is cherished, every voice amplified, every future honoured. It serves as an artistic act of recognition and celebration of the one hundred testimonies recorded through the Caring Scotland project.
The experience is audio narrated by Scott Kyle and Genna Allan. Both are actors who are also involved in the wider Caring Scotland project. Scott Kyle is one of the Ten Portraits subjects and Genna worked in the project team during the story collection phase. Both are care experienced.
The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics takes place in the home of Scottish politics on 27 and 28 August; and will feature over 30 events tackling some of the big political, cultural and social issues of the day.
Ten Portraits exhibition, by Caring Scotland photographer in residence Chris Scott, opened at Inverness Museum on 05 May ahead of touring to Shetland, Aberdeen and Edinburgh as well as touring alongside the One Hundred Voices installation at the Scottish Parliament and beyond.
The Sound Collection – a collection of stories forms part of the audio archive of the National Library of Scotland with short excerpts also available on the NTS website.
The Sound Collectionextracts can be listened to here.
Supported by The Weir Charitable Trust and The Rayne Foundation
The Sound Collection, Ten Portraits and One Hundred Voices are the public culmination of Caring Scotland, a three-year listening project led and inspired by the practice of playwright and socially engaged theatre-maker, Nicola McCartney, documenting the lives of care experienced people in Scotland since 2024.
The project is a unique partnership between National Theatre of Scotland, Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland and is funded with an award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Ten Portraits is a touring photographic exhibition of photographs captured by Chris Scott, inspired and informed by the Caring Scotland listening project. Chris is a Scottish photographer with a care experienced background, whose style is contemporary with a dramatic and atmospheric feel. Chris’s unobtrusive photography style captures the essence and personality of the people he photographs. He has taken individual portraiture photographs of ten of the personal story contributors during the project.
The Sound Collection – all stories gathered from the listening project have been safely deposited in a new Caring Scotland oral history audio archive, housed in perpetuity at the National Library of Scotland for public access as well as excerpts being made available online via the NTS website.
A team of multi-disciplinary artists worked with Nicola on the research into Caring Scotland. Artists Kevin Gilday (poet), Jo Mango (musician & songwriter), Roxana Cole (director) and Mal Fraser (filmmaker) and Sara Shaarawi (playwright), engaging with care experienced people from across Scotland, collecting their stories for this unprecedented oral history audio archive.
Lead artist, Nicola McCartney, has worked on many artistic projects with the care experienced community, and has worked within the system as a member of the Children’s Panel and a foster parent.
Caring Scotland is a continuation of her creative practice and her ongoing research into the care system in Scotland. Previously, in 2021, Nicola was commissioned by National Theatre of Scotland to create Holding/Holding On as part of their Care in Contemporary Scotland – A Creative Enquiry programme.
Nicola’s practice of active listening enables participants to take control of their narratives. Caring Scotland empowers the care experienced community by offering members a platform for their voices to be heard by the people of Scotland.
Nicola McCartney, lead artist, said: “It has been an honour and a challenge to lead such a large project, documenting the lives of Care Experienced people in Scotland in their own words.
“We look forward to now sharing these stories with the nation in many different and innovative ways. The testimonies we have listened to of how the Care system has impacted on people’s lives are a vital and often overlooked part of what Scotland’s story was, is now and what we can become.”
With The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support, the project has been open to all members of the care experienced community across Scotland to contribute to and take part in.
One Hundred Voices and Ten Portraits at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Wed 12 to Fri 28 August 26; Festival of Politics, Thu 27 to Fri 28 August 26 then touring to
Citizens Theatre, Studio Theatre and exhibition wall, Wed 2 to Sat 12 September 26;
Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, Thu 17 to Sat 19 September 26;
Millenium Centre, Stranraer, Thu 24 to Sat 26 September 26;
Reid Hall, Forfar Thu 1 to Sat 3 October 26;
Hall B, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Thu 8 to Sat 10 October 26.
Tickets are Pay What You Decide pricing.
Ten Portraits touring to Inverness Museum, Tue 5 to Fri 29 May 26;
Mareel, Shetland, Tue 2 to Fri 26 June 26;
Aberdeen Music Hall Gallery Space, Wed 1 to Fri 31 July 26;
Gallery Space, Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, Sat 10 to Friday 30 October;
Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, presented with Tonic Arts, Sun 1 November 26 to Sat 27 February 27.
More details on the Caring Scotland project can be found here.
A major public discussion on the future of tourism in Edinburgh will take place at the City Chambers on 12 May, bringing together European experts, local practitioners, and community voices to address one of the most pressing issues facing historic cities today.
Hosted by the Cockburn Association as part of the Festival of Europe, Homes or Homecomings? Managing Tourism Tensions with European Partners will explore how cities can balance the economic benefits of tourism with the needs of residents.
Tourism remains central to Edinburgh’s economy and identity, but increasing visitor numbers have placed growing pressure on housing, infrastructure, and everyday life in the city centre. The event will present new research on tourism impacts in Edinburgh while drawing on European case studies to examine how other historic cities are responding to similar challenges.
Speakers include academics and practitioners working across the UK and Europe, alongside representatives from business and community-led organisations. The discussion will consider issues such as short-term lets, housing availability, and how to sustain living communities in globally recognised heritage destinations.
The event is open to the public and will bring together policymakers, researchers, residents, and those working in tourism and heritage.
Event details:
Tickets and further information are available via Eventbrite.
On Europe Day, Saturday 9 May 2026, a free drop-in event for 16–35-year-olds will take place in Edinburgh, offering practical opportunities to study, work, travel, and volunteer across Europe.
The Connecting Europe Fair will be hosted at the French Institute on the Royal Mile from 10:00 to 16:30. Part of the wider Festival of Europe Scotland (7–17 May), this Fair is all about sharing exciting European connections that are accessible to as many people as possible.
Visitors will have the chance to meet with key organisations offering access to European opportunities, including the British Council, Erasmus Student Network, International Voluntary Service, the University of Edinburgh’s Languages for All programme, and the EU–UK Parliamentary Liaison Office.
The Fair will also feature exciting activities, such as:
Following the UK’s rejoining of Erasmus Plus, the Connecting Europe Fair offers a timely opportunity to explore education, volunteering, and travel across Europe once again. Whether you have five minutes or five hours to spare, pop by the Fair and in-person connect with experts who can help you unlock European experiences.
Organiser Niamh Donnellan explained: “The Fair aims to open doors and highlight accessible ways for young people in Scotland to engage with Europe, whether through study, volunteering, or cultural exchange.”
EVENT DETAILS
More Information: festivalofeuropescotland.org/connecting-europe-fair
THURSDAY 30 APRIL from 2 – 3.30pm
Want to trace your family tree, but not sure where to start?
Come along to our beginners’ #FamilyHistory session at Edinburgh Central Library to find out about the free resources that can help you with your research.
We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries. The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.
The next session is on Thursday 30 April at 2pm.
Book your place by emailing informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk
TRADITIONAL MUSIC | FOLK FILM | STORYTELLING
A packed programme of music, film and storytelling kicks off Edinburgh Tradfest this weekend (1-11 May) thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
In addition to the 65+ events already programmed, there will also be three, free pop-up performances lasting approximately 20 minutes each, and giving audiences and passers-by a taste of Tradfest in a new location:
Edinburgh Airport on Thursday 30 April, 11.30am – Astro Bloc
Aroma Restaurant and Bar, Broxburn, Saturday 2 May, 11.30am – SAZ
Nobles Bar, Leith, Friday 8 May, 2pm – Dauntless
Edinburgh Tradfest opens at Hangar 5 with two incredible bands headlining: Scotland’s most sought after folk band RURA; and newcomers to the folk scene Astro Bloc, whose music offers an exhilarating mix of heritage and innovation.
Over the weekend the music highlights continue with siblings Séamus and Caoimhe celebrating the culture of their Connemara homeland with dexterous instrumentals and beautiful blood harmonies; folk song sensation and multi award-winner Kim Carnie; an early evening concert with fiddler Eilidh Shaw (who is replacing Laura Jane Wilkie) and guitar legend Ian Carr; centuries old folk music from Rajasthani music sensation SAZ; African singing and step-dancing workshops; and late night sessions in the Traverse Bar.
In addition, folk musicians playing at any level, can take part in #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay on Saturday 2 May, by uploading a Strathspey tune online, or by joining fiddlers Sam Mabbett, Dylan Cairns, Eilidh Shaw and Angus Lyon for a live afternoon of Scottish music to celebrate the beauty of the humble Strathspey.
Plus, anyone under 5 years and their family can join in an afternoon of songs, actions and non-stop dancing with award-winning folk singer, primary music school teacher, and parent to a lively pre-schooler Fiona Hunter (Malinky), who will be hosting this year’s relaxed performance on Sunday afternoon.
Other hot tickets include The Furrow Collective with a final performance by Rachel Newton who is leaving the band; RANT (Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, Bethany Reid, Gillian Frame); the Brian Molley Quartet tracing the Scottish roots of jazz; virtuoso musician Tim Edey; banjo-playing singer-songwriter from Montreal Kaïa Kater; The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter, a vaudeville act seemingly from the 1920s with Montreal based songwriter Li’l Andy taking on the fictional persona of “Hezekiah Procter”; Gen Z old-time combo The Onlies from Seattle; Scandinavian string trio Northern Resonance; and acclaimed singer, composer, and live-looping artist GANNA Gryniva performing her new album UTOPIA which mixes Ukrainian folk tunes, with Peruvian grooves, jazz-tinged arrangements and electronic soundscapes.
One of the most unmissable events in this year’s programme has to be singer songwriter Josie Duncan’s new music commission on Monday night: A’ Chiad Litir (The First Letter), celebrating the life of Scots 16th century poet Marie Maitland whose works explored themes of same-sex attraction. Joining Josie on stage will be Charlotte Printer (bass), Chloë Bryce (fiddle), Eilidh Rogers(percussion), Jenny Clifford (guitar) and historian and author Ashley Douglas reading from Marie’s poems.
At the Storytelling Centre there will also be online talks and workshops discussing traditional dance, craft, music and storytelling with guest speakers including author, scholar, dancer and dance teacher Pat Ballantyne and CEO of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) Steve Byrne. Plus, there will be two storytelling performances: The Corpse Road on Sunday 3 May with Daniel Serridge and Heather Cartwright, about the Cumbrian roads that for many, formed their final journey to the grave; and The Cold Heart with storyteller Franziska Droll and musician Greg Harradine exploring the terrible cost that comes with the desire for wealth and belonging.
At the Cameo, the 12th edition of Scotland’s Folk Film Gathering also gets underway this weekend with the World premiere of a new documentary exploring the life and work of Gaelic singer and weaver Jimmy Hutchison, alongside a one-off live concert from Jimmy and his protegé Erika Douglas.
Other folk film highlights include Women in Resistance, a special double bill celebrating cross-cultural solidarities between Scotland and Peru; rarely-screened early short films from pioneering Scottish filmmaker Bill Douglas; and Heiny Srour’s groundbreaking Lebanese drama-documentary Leila and the Wolves introduced by Scottish-Palestinian poet Nada Shawa.
The Folk Film Gathering runs until 10 May and closes with a special screening of the newly-remastered 1954 Ukrainian classic Andriesh, and a live performance from the Edinburgh Ukrainian choir.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “Over the past few months we have booked the most incredible bands we can find, sorted food and accommodation, checked all our sound equipment is in place, liaised with our programming partners, and briefed all our lovely technical, front of house and production teams.
“We are marketing like crazy in any way we can think of so we are ready. All we need now is YOU, the audience. We have just the best line-up ever so come and check it out. A good time is guaranteed!”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2026 will run from Friday 1 May to Monday 11 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
A glamorous, never-before-exhibited portrait of Queen Mary and a miniature sleigh made of rock crystal will be among highlights on show in Scotland for the first time in a major exhibition opening tomorrow.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance will explore the glitzy world of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary – through their family connections, royal events, global travels and art collecting.
The exhibition will open in Edinburgh following a successful run in London and is the first Royal Collection Trust exhibition to explore the Edwardian era. It will bring together more than 150 items including fashion, paintings and books, as well as personal items such as jewellery, photographs and chinaware, more than half of which are on show in Scotland for the first time.
Visitors will see works from the Royal Collection by many of the period’s most celebrated names, including Fabergé, Tiffany & Co, and Edward Burne-Jones, and depictions of famous faces including composer Sir Edward Elgar.
Curator Kathryn Jones said: ‘The Edwardian era was a golden age of glamour and parties, but it was so much more than that; it was a fast-paced period making great advances in technology.
“Our royal couples wanted to make the most of it all, living lavishly and embracing new trends, before the sobering arrival of war. Throughout, they were collecting art as a way to hold onto tradition and capture the rapidly changing world around them. We hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy stepping back in time to this exciting period.’
In 1863, Queen Victoria’s eldest son Albert Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The marriage of the fashionable young couple – the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra – initiated a glamorous new era for the royal family, with Queen Victoria still in mourning and away from public life.
Edward and Alexandra established a new, vibrant court filled with opulent balls, society events and contemporary art – a lifestyle continued by their son, the future King George V, and his wife Queen Mary.
Full-length portraits of the two Queens will open the exhibition, showcasing the spectacular fashions of the era. The portraits of Queen Alexandra by François Flameng, and Queen Mary by William Samuel Henry Llewellyn (which has never before been on public display) will be shown alongside marble busts of their husbands, Kings Edward and George.
Both couples were fond of Scotland, with Edward having studied at the University of Edinburgh and George and Mary making regular visits and devotedly modernising the Palace of Holyroodhouse to make it once again suitable for royal entertaining.
Displays will evoke the interiors of the royal couples’ private residences, Marlborough House and Sandringham House, where the Edwardian fashion of filling every cabinet and covering every surface small decorative objects or family photographs reigned.
A star object on display for the first time in Scotland is a paperweight shaped like a tiny 10cm-tall sledge with a figure lying on it by Robert Colquhon. Thought to have been Scottish, Colquhon was a goldsmith based in Russia who made small-scale decorative objects from rock crystal and silver of snowy subjects like sleighs and bears on ice floes.
Edward and Alexandra collected several of his works – with one of his sleighs appearing in a photograph of Alexandra’s desk in Marlborough House in the 1890s.
Visitors will also learn of the relationships linking the family to the rest of Europe. Fabergé was introduced to the British royal family through Alexandra’s sister Dagmar, who had married Alexander III, Tsar of Russia.
The royal patronage caused the popularity of Fabergé to soar in the UK, and on show will be 21 items from the firm, including an ornate picture frame holding a photograph of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife; a cigarette case famously given to Edward by his official mistress Mrs Keppel; and six miniature figures of the royal couple’s favourite animals on the Sandringham estate.
As enthusiastic patrons of the arts, the Edwardians embraced new artistic movements including Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts, and the burgeoning medium of photography. Alexandra was particularly taken with the drawings of the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Edward Burne-Jones, whose study for a larger painting inspired by Sleeping Beauty will be on display. A soft-focus photograph of Alexandra by photographer Alice Hughes was typical of her pioneering yet delicate style, and both are on display in Scotland for the first time.
Garden parties formed an essential part of the Edwardian social calendar, with the first taking place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the much-anticipated visit of George and Mary in 1911. Danish painter Laurits Tuxen had been introduced to Queen Victoria through her daughter-in-law Alexandra, and his painting of a garden party at Buckingham Palace captures the spirit of the joyous occasion.
Contributions to society were also celebrated through the founding of the Order of Merit in 1902 to recognise prominent figures in cultural, scientific or military life. George commissioned a portrait of each recipient – a tradition that continues to this day – and drawings of Sir Edward Elgar and the physicist Sir J.J. Thomson by Scottish artist William Strang will be on display for the first time in Scotland.
The turn of the century saw great improvements to methods of travel, and the Edwardian royals travelled further than any previous members of the royal family – collecting and receiving gifts as they went. In February 1901, George and Mary set sail for 10 months on HMS Ophir to open the new federal parliament in Melbourne, Australia. To mark the occasion, the ‘Ladies of Adelaide’ gave Mary a richly embroidered silk hanging featuring a eucalyptus tree and local varieties of irises and orchids.
George and Mary visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse in July 1914, only a few weeks before the outbreak of the First World War. The glamour of the Edwardian era was being eclipsed by a serious atmosphere of duty – a sentiment led by the King, as Herbert Arnould Olivier’s study of King George V and Frank O. Salisbury’s painting The Passing of the Unknown Warrior, King George V as Chief Mourner, Whitehall attest.
Collecting had now become a way to honour the many sacrifices made in the Great War; a more restrained and dutiful monarchy had emerged.
The King’s Gallery will continue to offer £1 tickets for visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. Other concessionary rates are available, including discounted tickets for Young People, half-price entry for children (with under-fives free), and the option to convert standard tickets bought directly from Royal Collection Trust into a 1-Year Pass for unlimited re-entry for 12 months.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance is at The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 24 April – 6 December 2026.
Visitor information and tickets for The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse: www.rct.uk, T. +44 (0)303 123 7306.
The King’s Gallery will be open seven days a week from opening until 7 September 2026, when it will be open for five days (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) until 6 December 2026.
Instagram: @royalcollectiontrust Facebook: @royalcollectiontrust X: @RCT
Photography enthusiasts are being encouraged to enter a competition running until October celebrating three decades of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 making this World Heritage Day (Saturday, 18 April) so special as the competition is part of the Site’s 30th birthday celebrations.
This makes this weekend the perfect time to explore the Old and New Towns to capture images of one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world.
The winner of the competition, which is run by Edinburgh World Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Council, will receive a year’s membership to Historic Scotland.
Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.
The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.
The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.
This year’s World Heritage Day celebrations also include the following event:
DID JOHN BAYNE TAKE A SECRET TO HIS GRAVE?
TODAY (Saturday 18 April) as part of the Legacies in Stone project, Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Council (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) aim to lift the lid on a secret centuries in the making: does a broken gravestone in John Bayne’s mausoleum hide a forgotten burial vault?
By repairing a simple flat grave slab, the aim is to unlock the mystery of this unique tomb in Scotland’s most famous kirkyard.
How to join:
Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This year World Heritage Day is so special as there is much to celebrate. The 30th birthday is a significant achievement and milestone to reach as looking after the Site with our partners takes a lot of care and has many challenges. Edinburgh is a living, breathing city and it needs to be well managed to balance the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors.
“This World Heritage Day is a great time to enter our photography competition as it’s a lovely time of year to capture the changing light, sunsets and skylines this part of our stunning capital city is so famous for.
“The beautiful spring flowers appearing in the many gardens and open spaces are also there for us all to enjoy. If you’re interested in photography, why not explore the area this weekend to capture what inspires you most about the Old and New Towns.
“You could combine your visit to find out if John Bayne took a secret to his grave by attending the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard – or if history is more your interest – just attend the event instead.”
George Findlater, Head of Community and Economic Development at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “After thirty years of being a World Heritage Site, Edinburgh continues to inspire admiration from visitors and locals alike.
“We are excited to offer a year’s membership to Historic Scotland as a prize in the photography competition, and World Heritage Day is a terrific opportunity to bring out your camera and capture what makes Edinburgh so unique across the competition categories.”
Douglas Brotherston, Chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Thirty years as a World Heritage Site is quite a wonderful achievement and we are delighted at Edinburgh World Heritage, together with our partners at HES and the City of Edinburgh Council to mark the occasion by holding this photography competition.
“The unique appeal of Edinburgh’s streets and landscapes, skylines and special heritage is so varied, it lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope that we will get many entries from locals and visitors alike who can capture the glorious views of our spectacular city.”
The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:
Planning Convener Cllr Joan Griffiths writes about birthday celebrations for Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site ahead of World Heritage Day on Saturday:
It’s three decades since Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns were inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995, recognising the city’s diverse and iconic buildings and landmarks – thirty years on and we have a lot to celebrate this World Heritage Day, Saturday 18 April.
The status recognises the Towns (collectively) as one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world and helps us along with our partners, Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage, to make sure its value and beauty is preserved for generations to come.
As partners we’re tasked with preserving the organic medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town including the city’s iconic skyline. The Site offers a rich contrast of styles between the Old Town’s narrow, winding closes and the broad, elegant streets of the New Town. Along with our partners we look after around 4,500 individual buildings and for around 30,000 Edinburgh residents the Site is their home.
UNESCO’s values include working with communities and young people. Celebrating this big birthday is giving us a fantastic opportunity to engage residents and visitors in activities to help them find out more about this historically important and internationally renowned area of our beautiful Capital city.
If you’re a photography enthusiast, we’re running a competition with our partners to help celebrate this milestone. We’re asking you to share an image with us before the end of October that captures what inspires you most about the World Heritage Site and makes Edinburgh so special in your eyes. There are 12 categories to choose from, ranging from the Medieval Old Town to the Living City.
Winning images in each category will become part of a year-long calendar and you will be able to buy one in our Museums and Galleries shops, at Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money to help manage the Site going forward.
For our young residents we’ve asked a class of primary four Granton Primary pupils to work with a freelance artist over the summer term. The children will visit the Museum of Edinburgh and be given a special educational tour of the World Heritage Site.
The artist will carry out a number of sessions with the pupils in their classroom guiding them to paint their impressions of what they found interesting and memorable during their trip around this historic area of our city. When complete the work will be exhibited in the Museum of Edinburgh from 5 October to 10 January for everyone to enjoy.
Why not use this week to find out more about the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site and enter any special images of the area you are proud of into our photography competition. Good luck and happy snapping!
This week’s highlights include:
Science Festival Favourites (13 – 19 April)
Enjoy the perfect family day out this Easter break with a special programme of shows and workshops at the National Museum of Scotland. Kids can play the role of scientist as they Dig Up a Dinosaur, solve a crime in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation or make slime to take home in Splat-tastic.
The whole family can enjoy Mini-Medics: The Body Show and The Rocket Show, and explore our free Tech Decoded drop-in activities.
Celebrating Jane Goodall: A Life of Impact (15 April)
Celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE – Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace – whose groundbreaking research and community-led conservation work transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and the natural world.
Audiences will hear personal reflections from some of Jane’s former colleagues, view images and video from Goodall’s career, and will have the opportunity to submit questions for a concluding Q&A.
The Science of Origin (17 April)
Join Prof Dame Lorna Dawson of The James Hutton Institute and international experts for an interactive event exploring the science of provenance.
Learn how scientists determine authenticity and link objects or people to places, including crime scenes. The panel will discuss organised crime, murders, illegal mining, conflict minerals, gold trading, wildlife crime and the fossil trade.
Bloody Powerful: The Taboo-busting Guide to Periods, Menopause and Everything In-Between (18 April)
Dr Brooke Vandermolen has taken the internet by storm as ‘The OBGYN Mum’, smashing down taboos and debunking myths about overlooked and misunderstood areas of women’s health and medicine.
In this special event, join Dr Brooke Vandermolen and host Prof Philippa Saunders, as they navigate the biggest myths, misinformation, and medical jargon about female health, and show how the internet is making it harder than ever to find accurate information you can trust.
Doing Science on the Roof of the World (18 April)
In remote Himalayan regions of Nepal, yaks are vital for local livelihoods, yet crossbreeding with cattle – where antibiotics use is common – may help spread resistant germs.
Join an international team from the Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology in Nepal and the University of Edinburgh to explore this urgent issue, its implications for yak milk safety, and the challenges of conducting science in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park.
To view the full programme, visit:
