At the heart of Glamis Castle, visitors can find one of the most impressive textile items in the collection: the exquisite bed hangings known today at "The Queen Mother's Bed Hangings" created by her mother Cecilia, Countess of Strathmore.
This impressive and treasured set of hanging, which include a fully embroidered bed head, bed spread, and pelmet featuring a dedication to each of Cecilia's beloved children, is an extraordinary piece of family heritage.
A Design Rooted in Royal History
The original bed hangings were created as part of a wedding gift from Countess Cecilia to her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen, upon her marriage to the Duke of York (later King George VI).
The Strathmore family’s deep historical ties to the union of Scotland and England are beautifully expressed in the embroidery’s motifs: a regal Scottish thistle intertwined with the English rose, arranged in a graceful Regency-inspired lattice, a device which is repeated throughout the set.
Though the full embroidered bed cover was sadly lost (a patchwork quilt shown below replaced it for many years), its memory remained alive in the bedhead and in a handful of photographs, enough for Phillipa to undertake one of the most meaningful recreations of her career.
Phillipa’s Story: Recreating a Royal Treasure
In her own words, Phillipa describes being “in the right place at the right time” during a visit to Glamis Castle in 1999.
When she discovered the story behind the Queen Mother’s original bedspread, she and her then partner proposed to the Castle the idea of recreating it. Despite having started her business only a few years earlier, she accepted the challenge “with great honour.”
The project took two years to complete. In August 2001, the finished recreation was presented by the Strathmore family and the Glamis estate to HRH The Queen Mother for her 100th birthday, a moment Phillipa still recalls with deep pride.
While the full bedspread is not available as a kit, its central motif inspired several later designs, including the Glamis Crown Rose & Thistle (available again 2026), and now, the Countess Pillow.
About the Countess Pillow Class
The Countess Pillow distils the elegance of Countess Cecilia’s original design into a project that is both approachable and impressive. For this design, Phillipa has taken elements of the embroidery on the original pelmets and brought them together in a regency style ensemble.
Although an impressive heirloom design, the Glamis Countess Pillow is a straight forward project that can be completed in a relatively short time. As such Phillipa will teach in just one day, live during the February 2026 festival.
Stitchers joining this class will have the rare opportunity to connect with a historic motif passed down through centuries of Scottish family heritage, while learning from Phillipa, who can recount the story of her recreation first hand.
During the festival, through expert-led sessions, lectures, and specially filmed material recorded at Glamis, stitchers worldwide will be able to immerse themselves in the history, artistry, and legacy of these remarkable textiles.
Whether you are a returning student or discovering Glamis for the first time, the Countess Pillow offers an wonderful way to engage with this collection.
