William Wallace letter to go on display at Kew in 2027

British history | Source information: 9 September 2026.

A letter written in 1300 and linked to William Wallace is due to go on display at The National Archives in Kew in 2027. National Records of Scotland announced the arrangement on 9 September 2026, as part of a joint curatorial agreement between the two archives.

A letter that crossed borders

The letter was written by Philip IV of France, asking his agents at the Papal court to support Wallace. National Records of Scotland describes it as one of only two surviving documents believed to have a personal connection to him. The original has been on loan to the Scottish archive since 2012 and is returning to The National Archives.

What is planned

The announcement sets out a Kew display in 2027, followed by a return to Scotland from 2028 to 2031. Other possible display locations are being explored. These are plans for future access; the announcement does not provide a current exhibition opening date or ticket arrangements.

Why the document matters beyond a famous name

For anyone interested in archives, the letter is a reminder that evidence about a person’s life can survive in another country and under another institution’s care. In family research, the same habit of following the record’s origin and custody can help explain why papers are scattered. A historical connection is not evidence of a family relationship to Wallace.

Following your own family across borders

For British families with Polish roots, the starting point may be a letter, a certificate or a service book already in the family. Names, places and dates in those papers can guide commissioned research in Polish and other continental archives. The aim is to build a documented link between generations, with each conclusion tied to the evidence.

Official source

National Records of Scotland: Wallace document agreement. Source checked on 18 October 2026.