When, according to tradition, Kenneth I MacAlpin founded the Kingdom of Scotland in 843, he established a kingdom that has, except for a few brief periods, endured to the present day.
For much of the more than 1100 years since, the kings and queens of Scotland have held court in Edinburgh, the capital city, shaping its history as much as the city shaped them.
But where did – and still do – the royals spend their time when they came to Edinburgh? What other places in the city hold deep royal connections?
Keep reading to find out!
Table of Contents
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, also known simply as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The king visits every summer; the palace is closed to the public during that week.
Holyrood was first associated with Scottish royalty when David I founded an Augustinian abbey here in 1128; the ruins of the abbey can still be seen adjacent to the current palace.
In the 16th century, it became the principal residence of the Scottish monarchs. Some of the most dramatic moments in the life of Mary, Queen of Scots took place at Holyrood. She was married to her infamous second husband, Lord Darnley, here in 1565. Several months later, her husband murdered her secretary, David Rizzo, in front of the pregnant queen. The rooms where these events took place can still be seen today.
- Want to learn about more places associated with Mary, Queen of Scots? Check out In the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots
After the union of Scotland and England, Scottish monarchs made England their principal place of residence over Scotland. Still, the palace continued to play an important role. When Queen Elizabeth II (and I of Scotland) died in Scotland in 2022, her coffin departed Holyrood before being brought to St. Giles Cathedral.
Check out my article here for a full timeline of Holyroodhouse.
Edinburgh Castle
Kings and queens live in castles, right? Well, it should come as no surprise that royals called Edinburgh Castle home for several centuries.
A fort has been on the spot for a long time, but it was finally in the 11th century, that was known to be a royal residence. Saintly Queen Margaret died here in 1093. Her son, Malcolm III, built the foundations of the stone castle that we see and know today – one of these being Saint Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh.
Malcolm IV was said to have stayed at Edinburgh Castle more often than at any of the other numerous royal residences. David II rebuilt the castle after it was deliberately damaged during the Scottish Wars of Independence; you can still visit David’s Tower today. In 1440, the child king James II witnessed the murder of the teenage Earl of Douglas in an episode known to history as the “Black Dinner.”
Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future James VI in a small room at Edinburgh that you can see in the Royal Apartments; James would later succeed as King of England, uniting the thrones of England and Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle is one of the city’s most popular sights, so I recommend booking your ticket in advance, especially during the busy summer months.
If you want to know more about Edinburgh Castle and how to visit it, check out my Ultimate Guide to Visiting Edinburgh Castle!
Royal Mile and Mercat Cross
Linking Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the road known as the Royal Mile.
Why is it called the “Royal Mile”? Well, “royal” because it was traditionally the processing route for Scotland’s monarch. “Mile” because it actually is the length of a Scottish mile – today, that’s a little less than 2km, or a little over one imperial mile.
On the Royal Mile is the Mercat Cross. Despite the “cross” in its name, a mercat cross was actually a secular symbol of authority. Important announcements were read from the cross in a tradition that has carried on to the present day – King Charles III’s ascension to the throne was proclaimed from here in 2022.
Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia
The Britannia was a royal yacht, the most recent in a string of royal yachts dating back to the reign of Charles II. She was commissioned in 1954.
Acting as a floating palace, this beloved vessel was used for both official and private trips of the royal family. Several royal couples spent their honeymoons on the ship, most famously the then-Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife Diana in 1981.
At the Britannia’s decommissioning in 1997, Queen Elizabeth II famously shed a tear – one of her few public displays of emotion. Britannia was berthed permanently in Edinburgh and was opened to the public the following year, where she has become one of the city’s most popular attractions.
St. Giles Cathedral
Located on the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral is a landmark of Edinburgh and the mother church of Presbyterianism.
There’s been a church on this spot since 1124. Stewart kings from James I to James V attended Catholic Mass here. In the 16th century, the church became Protestant. Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, did not attend service. Her half-brother was buried in St. Gilles after his assassination in 1570, the first recorded assassination by firearm in history; a stained-glass window commemorates the event.
Mary’s Protestant son, James VI, attended service at St. Giles, and was said to frequently argue with the minister during sermons. Charles I tried to impose The Book of Common Prayer on the Presbyterian Scots, causing a riot to break out at St. Giles that led to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (and Charles’ eventual execution).
The cathedral also contains the small but ornate Thistle Chapel, where the members of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle meet for services and inauguration of new members. The order is headed by the monarch.
Canongate Kirk
Built between 1688 and 1691, Canongate Kirk serves as the parish church for the nearby Holyrood Palace and the Scottish parliament. The building is notable for its distinctive sinuous architecture on the outside and its cheery blue pews on the inside.
The church is also associated with the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II used to worship here during her visits to Edinburgh. Her granddaughter, Zara, married here in 2011.
The adjacent churchyard is said to contain the burial place of David Rizzio, the murdered secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Bonus: Scottish National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of Scotland
While not directly associated with Scottish royalty, if you’re curious what some of the kings and queens of Scotland looked like, head to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Here you’ll find portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots and her husbands, James VI, and even Bonnie Prince Charlie, who unsuccessfully tried to claim the throne during the Jacobite Rebellion.
If you’re looking for objects that belonged to some of the monarchs themselves, head to the Palace of Holyroodhouse or the National Museum of Scotland, which has a small collection of items once possessed by Mary, Queen of Scots.
There you have it! A bit of Scottish royal history still visible in the Scottish capital itself. What you are most looking forward seeing? Let me know in the comments!
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