Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald…
In 1746, following defeat at The Battle of Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie was on the run from the Government with a price of £30,000 on his head. He had managed to escape to the West Coast of Scotland and on to Uist where he was introduced to Flora MacDonald. Between them a plan was hatched, and it was decided that Flora and the Prince should travel by boat over the sea to Skye. They set sail on the evening of the 28th of June 1746 and successfully landed on the shore below Monkstadt House at a spot named Rudha Phrionnsa (Prince’s Point). In order to disguise the Prince he was dressed as an Irish spinning maid named Betty Burke.
Flora was well acquainted with Sir Alexander and his wife Lady Margaret and knew that at heart Lady Margaret was a Jacobite sympathiser. She left the Prince on the shore and visited Monkstadt where she was quickly ushered into the dining room to be greeted by a Lieutenant Alexander MacLeod, who was in charge of the troops in the North of Skye. Flora was closely questioned by Lt MacLeod on the movements of the Prince but managed to cleverly ward off any suspicion in her involvement in his escape.
Lady Margaret was deeply concerned for the safety of the Prince and equipped Flora with food and refreshments for them continue on safely to Kingsburgh House.
