Tracing a descent from the twelfth century Walter Fitz Alan who held the hereditary title of High Steward to the Scottish king, it was through the marriage of his son Robert to Marjorie, daughter of Robert the Bruce, that the Royal House of Stewart was born. Tragedy dogged them over the centuries – with James 1 stabbed to death, James 11 killed when a cannon exploded near where he had been standing, James 111 murdered, James 1V killed at the battle of Flodden in 1513, Mary Queen of Scots falling victim to the executioner’s axe in 1587 and the flight into exile of James V11 (James 11 of England) in 1688. All hopes of a Stewart restoration to the throne were finally dashed in the carnage of the battle of Culloden and the flight and escape to France of Bonnie Prince Charlie.