Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace is the Official Residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen.   It was the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, ruler of Scotland from 1561-1568 AD.  It sits at the foot of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle.

Originally Holyrood Abbey was built in 1128 AD by King David and expanded until 1230 AD.   It included monastic buildings – cloisters, a chapter house, and guest houses.  By the 15 century, kings preferred residing there rather than Edinburgh Castle because of the setting in the large parks.  Holyrood Abbey suffered great damage in 1540s from destructive raids by English armies until all that remains is the nave’s shell today.  Royal lodgings were converted to a palace during the reign of King James IV to house his bride Margaret Tutor, daughter of Henry VII.

Neglected for centuries after housing exiled French aristocrats until Queen Victoria traveled to Scotland in 1842 and favored the lands.  Holyrood Palace became a perfect step on the way to the newly purchased Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands and she had the palace renovated

Fountain in the court yard of Holyrood Palace – it is only turned on when a member of the royal family is in residence

Interior court yard of Holyrood Palace – top floor all of the way around is the royal residence and not open to the public

Ruins of the old Holyrood Abbey – inside; from the 12th century

View from the garden at Holyrood Palace

Palace was built from the ruins of the abbey