A sword belonging to Robert the Bruce is set to go on display to the public for the first time.

The five foot long "sword of state" was owned by the 14th century Scottish King and has been kept at the Bruce family home in Broomhall House in Dunfermline, Fife since 1791.

It was also used by Katherine Bruce to knight poet Robert Burns at Clackmannan tower in 1787.

The weapon will appear in the exhibition alongside other historical items from the property including a rare cast of the skull of King Robert, made shortly after the discovery of his remains in 1818.

The collection of unique items will help tell the story of the Bruce family throughout the ages and promises to give a rare glimpse into the family's legacy.

Lord Charles Bruce, son of the Earl of Elgin Andrew Bruce, said: "The family came to Scotland in the 11th century.

"Our most illustrious member of the family was King Robert the Bruce but obviously other members of the family have done important things - so all the items chosen for the display connect the family to Scotland's history and to world history."

Among the items on show will be a suit in the Bruce Tartan from around 1760 which was commissioned and worn by James Bruce of Kinnaird, silver from the collection of 17th century inventor Alexander Bruce and a portrait by the famous painter Allan Ramsay, of Charles Bruce.

A ledger book drawn from the state archives showing an unpaid debt of £34.10 owed by the family of Scottish businessman Andrew Carnegie will also be on display.

Lord Charles Bruce said: "This entry in the ledger documents a beginning of a really important sequence of events that leads to Carnegie amassing his large fortune; most of which he gave away in his lifetime.

"It is another item from our collection that has a really interesting global resonance."

The items taken from Broomhall House go on display to the public for a week from Monday, January 22 and will be the centrepiece of Scottish Week at Bonhams in Edinburgh.