The Palace of Holyrood Edinburgh

The Palace of Holyrood is the Queen's official residence in Scotland.  It lies at the bottom of the Royal Mile.  Until the early 1500's, Royal visitors stayed at the Royal Guesthouse attached to Holyrood Abbey, the ruins of which stand next to the Palace. James IV started the building of a Palace here prior to his wedding to Margaret Tudor and it was to this Palace that James VI brought his bride, Anne of Denmark, until he left in 1603 to become James I & VI.

The Palace was burned by Cromwell's troops in 1650 but it was Cromwell who instructed the architect Sir William Bruce to design the Palace of Holyrood we see today. It was built by Robert Mylne in 1671-8. 

However, for some reason not many Royals actuallyused the Palace. It was the setting for the negotiations for the Union of Parliaments which joined Scotland with England and Queen Victoria made several visits -although her first love in Scotland was Balmoral Castle.

Within the vault of the Abbey lie the remains of many of Scotland's Kings; David II, James II, James V and Henry, Lord Darnley.

A visit to the Palace, which is open to the public at certain times of the year, is well worthwhile.  As well as seeing the various staterooms and apartments, there are magnificent 16th and 17th century tapestries, intricate woodwork and paintings.