William Wallace letter to return to London for display under new agreement

A centuries-old letter of recommendation from the king of France for William Wallace is set to go on display across the UK.The “Wallace letter” was written in 1300 by King Philip IV of France to his agents in the court of Pope Boniface VIII in Rome.Written in a form of Latin shorthand, the brief letter instructs them to ask the Pope to support the Scottish knight in “those things which he has to transact”.It is believed to be one of only two surviving documents with a personal connection to Wallace.It was discovered among a mass of diplomatic letters in the Tower of London in the 1830s, before being transferred to the Public Record Office in London, which later became The National Archives (TNA).The letter has been on loan to National Records of Scotland (NRS) since 2012 but is now returning to TNA under a new agreement between the organisations.It will go on display at Kew in 2027 as part of its public programme, enabling thousands of visitors to see the document.TNA will also explore the option of displaying it at other locations in England before it returns to Scotland on loan from 2028 to 2031.NRS said the new loan agreement will allow for a curated display in Edinburgh and potentially more widely across Scotland, working with other cultural institutions.NRS chief executive Alison Byrne said: “This collaborative approach will help to maximise public access to the letter while reflecting its shared historical importance.“I look forward to the letter returning to Scotland from 2028.”Saul Nasse, chief executive and keeper of public records at TNA, said: “The Wallace letter speaks to our shared history, and this agreement provides an opportunity for anyone interested in the document to view it and to develop a deeper understanding of its historical significance.”Scottish Culture Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “This is a document of huge historical significance, connecting us to one of Scotland’s most important national figures.“I believe the letter should be in Scotland and am pleased that after a short period of planned display in England, the Wallace letter will return to Scotland from 2028, ensuring people here can engage with this remarkable piece of our history.Read More“Given the letter and Wallace’s centrality to Scotland’s history, we will continue our dialogue with the UK Government to discuss its longer term future.”One of Scotland’s best-known historical figures, Wallace is famous for leading the Scots in the defeat of the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.He later spent time in Europe but by 1305 was back in Scotland where he was captured, taken to London and executed.