England has a rose, Wales a daffodil, Ireland a shamrock and Scotland the purple, prickly but proud thistle which has been our national emblem for centuries, here’s why.

Queen Camilla marked the Edinburgh garden party on July 1 by wearing Queen Mary's Diamond Thistle Brooch, a historic piece of ...

The National Records of Scotland reports that “Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587) had the thistle’s image incorporated into the Great Seal of Scotland, making it a national symbol for longevity.” ...

It was an ancient Scottish symbol for noble birth. Thistles that bloom are usually preferred, both as symbols and in gardens, to those that just have those fierce thorns.

IT’S hardly surprising that the thistle became a symbol of Scotland. It’s a troublesome weed. I’m sorry, I’ll read that again. It’s a… ...

The mighty but mythical unicorn and the humble, spiky thistle have been symbols of Scotland for centuries. But are these national emblems – created in war-torn medieval times, long before My ...

More seriously, the other reason Scottish Labour has ended up with a thistle is because of its existential problems. They are accused of being “Red Tories”, they are accused of being ...

The unicorn is wreathed in purple thistle, Scotland’s national flower, a prickly weed that can to grow five-feet in height. The Doodle is bookended by the Scottish flag, also known as the ...