Bonnie Prince Charlie

Charles Edward Louis Philip Casimir Stuart (1720 - 1788) was the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, the exiled pretender to the throne of Great Britain, and the Polish Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska. He became known as Bonnie Prince Charlie as a result of his invasion of Great Britain. His supporters called him "King Charles III", his opponents "The Young Pretender", in contrast to his father, "The Old Pretender".

After the devastating defeat at the Battle of Culloden (1746), he was able to escape, unlike most of his fighters. On the run, he wandered the Highlands and Western Isles for five months. Despite the enormous reward of £30,000 on his head, he was hidden by supporters of the old royal family and escaped in drag with the help of Flora MacDonald, who is still celebrated as a heroine in the Highlands today. Disguised as "maid Betty Burke", he rowed with Flora to the Isle of Skye, where he was able to embark and flee to France.