The first nation-wide Jacobite Festival was an idea which first originated with our team here at Prestonpans, growing out of the momentum which had led to the creation of the Jacobite Scotland website. It was therefore natural for us to hold a number of events here at our museum as part of the fantastic festival programme.
On Tuesday 20 August, visitors were treated to a talk on the Jacobite-connected panels of the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, entitled From Culloden to the Carolinas. Exploring the breadth and diversity of the Jacobite diaspora, the talk was well-received and we may look to host it again in future.
On Thursday 22 August, our curator led the audience through the high-stakes soap opera of the royal succession crises of the 17th-18th centuries, in Disputed Dynasties: from Stuart to Hanover.
Then on Sunday 25 August, to close the Festival, we enjoyed a chance to screen the 1948 film Bonnie Prince Charlie, starring David Niven in the lead. The screening was introduced by our curator Arran, and accompanied by a small display of memorabilia from the time of the film’s release.
After the film, our volunteer team had an informal celebration in the newly-refurbished green room of the museum, marking the end of the Jacobite Festival for 2024.
