圣十字架宫12

But ultimately there was no escape from her royal destiny.

Mary had to provide an heir and so marry again.

One man stood out,her cousin,Henry Stuart Lord Darnley,

painted here aged 17,alongside his younger brother.

It would be a disastrous choice.

As always with these portraits,it's about much more than just what he looks like,

though he's a fine figure of a man.

The painting is full of symbols about their status and their power and their importance as a family.

Just look at the watch he's wearing around his neck and the expensive gloves he's holding in his hand.

It might seem rather funereal to us these days that they're both dressed head to toe in black,

but back then only the seriously wealthy could afford black clothes because black was the most expensive kind of dye.

Darnley was a good looking man.

Mary was smitten.