Royal Palaces - Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Official Scottish Residence of the British Monarch

Oct 2, 2009

The Palace of Holyroodhouse had its origins as a medieval abbey and is now a working palace and office for the Royal Family.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse was originally an Augustinian monastery, the Abbey of Holyrood. The monastery was founded by King David I of Scotland in 1128. According to legend, the king was hunting one day when he had a vision of a deer with a cross, or “rood,” between its antlers. He founded the Abbey of Holyrood on the spot. The abbey’s name is taken from its most valuable relic, a fragment of the True Cross. King David’s mother, Saint Margaret, brought the fragment to Scotland.

The abbey prospered through the years. As time passed, and Edinburgh became recognized as Scotland’s capital, the royal families began to stay at the abbey rather than at Edinburgh Castle, which, due to its position on a hill, was exposed to the elements. In time, the palace buildings began to surpass the abbey in terms of both size and importance. The palace was expanded substantially by King James V between 1535 and 1536.

Mary, Queen of Scots

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is most associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Many of the dramatic events in her reign took place at the palace. These events include her marriage to her second husband, Lord Darnley; the murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, by Darnley; and her ill-fated marriage to the 4th Earl of Bothwell.

The Decline of the Palace

The reign of Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland, signaled the beginning of the end for the palace. The palace had to be renovated for James’s return to Scotland in 1617. It had to be renovated again for the Scottish coronation of Charles I in 1633. The palace was then badly damaged by Oliver Cromwell’s troop during the Civil War and was poorly repaired.

After his restoration to the throne, Charles II did not visit Scotland, but in 1671 he commissioned repair work on the Scottish palace. The project was commissioned by Charles’s Secretary of State for Scotland, James Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale. The restored palace was intended to serve as a residence for the King’s brother, James, Duke of York.

James was deposed in 1689. Until the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, the palace was used to house officers of state, who were given apartments in the palace. The Act of Union dissolved the Scottish Parliament, which removed the seat of Scottish power from Edinburgh and moved it to London. After this, there was only a brief moment of glory when the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at the palace and held court there in 1745. In 1768 the roof of the abbey church collapsed and the palace fell into disrepair. The government made no move to rebuild the abbey.

In 1822 King George IV made a state visit to Scotland and Holyroodhouse was used as the king’s drawing room and levees. However, due to its condition, the king could not stay there. The king’s visit placed a spotlight on the condition of the palace and money was soon given for repairs and improvements.

In 1842 Queen Victoria made her first state visit to Scotland. She was prevented from visiting Holyroodhouse, however, by an outbreak of scarlet fever. Victoria fell in love with Scotland and in 1848 she purchased Balmoral Castle in the highlands of Scotland. The Palace of Holyroodhouse was identified as a stop along the journey from London to Balmoral Castle. Slowly, the palace returned to its position as Scotland’s foremost royal residence.

Visitors began to visit the castle during the Romantic period when public interest in Mary, Queen of Scots was at an all-time high. After Victoria’s visit in 1842, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh began to lobby for more public access to the palace. The Office of Works soon appointed a staff to show some of the room throughout the week.

The Palace in the 20th Century

Despite the repairs completed during Victoria’s reign, the palace was still deemed unsuitable when Victoria’s son, King Edward VII, visited Scotland in 1903. The task of adapting the palace to 20th century needs became the responsibility of King George V and Queen Mary.

Today the role of the palace continues to expand. Queen Elizabeth II spends a week at the palace every summer before continuing to Balmoral Castle for the next two months. While at the palace, the queen carries out official engagements.

Gow, Ian. The Palace of Holyroodhouse: Official Guidebook. London: Royal Collections Enterprises, 2002.

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