Gallant Salmond pledges his loyalty with a kiss

The restoration of the 16th-century royal palace is one of Scotland's most important cultural projects ever, Mr Salmond claimed yesterday.

The First Minister said the unveiling of the revamped quarters of Mary of Guise, where Mary, Queen of Scots was raised, would be a huge "milestone" for the nation this summer.

And he revealed the castle and the multi-million-pound visitor centre at Bannockburn would take centre stage in the next year of Homecoming in 2014, which will coincide with the 700th anniversary of the battle.

Visitor numbers at Stirling Castle are expected to be break through the half-million mark, when the palace - the highlight of which will be the recreation of dozens of carved heads which once graced the ceiling of the king's quarters - is revealed in its full glory in June. Some 5,000 visitors are expected in the first weekend in June, when 60 performers will stage a royal parade through the grounds, recreate a masked ball, perform traditional music and demonstrate fighting techniques.

Historic Scotland has spent 12 million and ten years restoring the building - which was in use as military barracks until the 1960s - to its former glory.

Some 34 of the original carved Stirling Heads will be going on display in a new gallery area inside the palace.

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