EDINBURGH – A letter penned by a seven-year-old King James VI of Scotland, believed to be the earliest surviving written correspondence by the future monarch, will go on public display for the first time later this month as part of a landmark exhibition.
The document, preserved by National Records of Scotland (NRS), forms the centrepiece of The World of King James VI & I, a major exhibition opening at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait on April 26. The show commemorates 400 years since the death of the king who would go on to rule not just Scotland but also England and Ireland.
The handwritten letter, thought to be written around 1573, is a childhood note of thanks to the Countess of Mar—the wife of his guardian—gratefully acknowledging a gift of fruit.
“These records are rarely seen in public,” said Dr Alan Borthwick, head of medieval and early modern records at NRS. “They help us understand James’s remarkable story, from becoming king of Scots as a baby… to uniting the crowns of three kingdoms.”
A boy king, a unified realm
Born at Edinburgh Castle on 19 June 1566, James was thrust into royalty when his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate just over a year later. At 13 months old, he became King of Scots, though his early years were spent under the guardianship of powerful noble families.
In 1603, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James inherited the English crown, becoming the first monarch to rule both England and Scotland. His reign marked the beginning of the Union of the Crowns, a turning point in British history.
He ruled as James VI of Scotland and James I of England, and was succeeded in 1625 by his second son, Charles I—whose reign would later spiral into civil war and regicide.
A rare glimpse into royal childhood
The exhibition aims to bring to life James’s personality and politics through an immersive blend of artworks, clothing, jewels, and archival records. But it is the childhood letter that has generated the greatest buzz among historians and visitors alike.
The letter reveals James’s early literacy and courtly training, even as a young child. It also offers rare insight into his emotional world and his relationships with the Scottish nobility who helped shape his formative years.
“It’s astonishing to see the voice of a future king coming through so clearly, even at such a young age,” said one exhibition curator. “The gratitude, the polish, the politeness—this was a boy raised for power.”
Exhibition highlights
Among the key items on display:
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The first known letter from James VI, c.1573
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State documents relating to the Union of the Crowns
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Royal portraits from his reign in both Scotland and England
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Jewels, clothing, and regalia reflecting early 17th-century monarchy
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Artifacts tied to Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Scottish court
The exhibition has been designed as a multi-sensory, narrative-driven journey through James’s transformation from child king to statesman monarch, exploring not only his reign but also the political, cultural, and religious upheavals that defined his era.
