Prince Charles Edward Stuart (‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’) emerges triumphantly from the shadows and steps out into the Ballroom at Holyroodhouse. Like many of Pettie’s historical themes, the painting has a basis in fact, but is subject to artistic licence. Prince Charles Edward did indeed hold court at Holyroodhouse after seizing Edinburgh in September 1745, but the ball at Holyroodhouse was probably only a fictional event, created by Sir Walter Scott in his novel Waverley. Presented to King George V in 1916