HRH the Duke of Gloucester at Burns Mausoleum

A monochrome photographic print of the Duke of Gloucester laying a wreath at the grave of Robert Burns.   The Duke of Gloucester made a visit to Dumfries on 20th September 1932. (The last royal visit to the town had been in 1617, when James VI of Scotland came to Dumfries.)  In this photograph he is laying a wreath on the grave of Robert  Burns, Scotland's national poet, within his mausoleum in St Michael's Churchyard. Dumfries.   Robert Burns was originally buried in St Michael's Churchyard, Dumfries, in a simple grave, marked only by a plain stone slab.  His admirers came to believe that this was an insufficient memorial to the poet. In 1813 his friend, John Syme formed a committee and launched an appeal to build a mausoleum in his memory. One of the subscribers was the Prince Regent, later George IV. The mausoleum was completed in September 1817.   The ceremony of laying of wreaths at the mausoleum was observed throughout the 19th century and formed  part of the celebrations of the first and second centenaries of his birth and death. It is still an important element of the rituals of Burns' birthday today and many distinguished visitors to the town place wreaths on his grave as part of the programme of their visit.