Mary Queen of Scots was executed this day, Feb 8, 1587. Mary embodies the complexities of Scotland's political and religious turmoil during the 16th century. Her reign began in 1542 when she was just six days old, and was marked by a series of regencies due to her infancy and later, her absence in France. Upon her return to Scotland in 1561, Mary found herself navigating a newly Protestant Scotland, a stark contrast to her Catholic upbringing. Her personal life, marked by marriages that were politically and personally challenging, and her forced abdication in favor of her son, James VI, in 1567, further complicated her reign. Despite her eventual imprisonment and execution by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, in 1587, Mary's legacy in Scotland is one of resilience, charm, and a tragic figure caught in the power struggles of her time. Mary may have drawn her inspiration for her motto from the emblem adopted by her grandfather-in-law, François I of France: the salamander. The Salamander was believed to self-ignite at the end of its life, then rise up from the ashes re-born. The arrangement of the tartan was inspired by the Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan. It was designed with a pinkish coloured background in recognition of the pink and red roses that the Scottish Queen reportedly loved and had planted around Holyrood Palace while she was in residence there. 👑 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 💗 🌹❤️