Holyrood Palace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palace of Holyroodhouse |
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The Palace of Holyroodhouse viewed from the Forecourt
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| General information | |
| Type | Official residence |
| Architectural style | Classical |
| Location | Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°57′09″N 3°10′21″W / 55.95250°N 3.17250°W |
| Construction started | 1671 (north-west tower, 1528) |
| Completed | 1678 (north-west tower, 1536) |
| Owner | King Charles III in right of the Crown |
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, often called Holyrood Palace, is the official home of the British monarch in Scotland. You can find it at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, across from Edinburgh Castle. Since the 1500s, Holyroodhouse has been the main royal residence in Scotland. It's used for important royal events and entertaining guests.
The Palace is right next to the old Holyrood Abbey. Its beautiful gardens are part of Holyrood Park. The King's Gallery, which shows art from the Royal Collection, opened in 2002.
Today, King Charles III stays at Holyroodhouse for one week each summer. During this time, he does many official jobs and ceremonies. You can visit the historic rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the grand State Apartments. These rooms are open to the public most of the year, except when the royal family is staying there. The Palace also hosts the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland during the yearly meeting of the Church of Scotland.
Contents
The Palace's Long History
Early Days: 1100s to 1400s
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The ruined Augustinian Holyrood Abbey stands beside the Palace. It was started in 1128 by King David I. The name "Holyrood" comes from a story about King David seeing a vision of a cross, or from a special relic called the Holy Rood. This relic belonged to Saint Margaret, David's mother.
Because it was a royal church and near Edinburgh Castle, the Abbey became an important place for government. Kings were buried there, and important meetings took place. For example, in 1328, the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton was signed there. This shows the Abbey was already used as a royal home.
Growing Bigger: The 1500s
Between 1501 and 1505, King James IV built a new Gothic palace next to the Abbey. This was likely for his marriage to Margaret Tudor in 1503. The Palace of Holyroodhouse was built around a square courtyard. It had a chapel, a gallery, royal rooms, and a great hall. The King even had a special animal house with lions and tigers!
King James V made the palace even larger from 1528 to 1536. He built the tall James V's Tower, which is the oldest part of the palace still standing. This tower was very secure, with a drawbridge and strong doors. He also added new state rooms and a royal library.
Sadly, English armies attacked Edinburgh in 1544 and 1547. They badly damaged the palace and the Abbey. Repairs were made, but the Abbey was later damaged again by a Protestant group in 1559.
Mary, Queen of Scots' Time
The royal rooms in James V's Tower were home to Mary, Queen of Scots from 1561 to 1567. She practiced archery in the gardens and hunted deer in Holyrood Park. Mary held famous meetings with John Knox in her audience room. She married her second husband, Lord Darnley, in her private chapel in 1565.
A very famous and sad event happened in Mary's rooms on March 9, 1566. David Rizzio, her private secretary, was murdered there. Lord Darnley and other nobles burst into the Queen's rooms and killed Rizzio. Mary later married her third husband, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, at the palace in May 1567.
James VI's Reign
James VI (Mary's son) moved into the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1579. The palace was updated for him and his favorite, Esmé Stewart. James's queen, Anne of Denmark, was crowned in Holyrood Abbey in 1590. At that time, about 600 people worked in the royal household at the palace.
James VI also kept a menagerie of animals, including a lion and a tiger. However, the palace wasn't always safe. There were two attacks on the King and Queen in 1591 and 1593. Three of James VI's children were baptized in the chapel royal. The Scottish Parliament also met at the Palace many times.
A New Look: The 1600s
When James VI became King of England in 1603, he moved to London. Holyroodhouse was no longer the main royal home. The palace was badly damaged by fire in 1650 when Oliver Cromwell's soldiers were staying there.
After King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, the Palace of Holyroodhouse became a royal palace again. The Scottish government decided to rebuild almost the entire palace. This was important to show Edinburgh was still a royal capital.
Sir William Bruce, the King's architect, designed the new palace. He planned royal apartments for the King and Queen, linked by a large gallery. Construction started in 1671. By 1679, the palace looked much like it does today.
In 1679, James, Duke of Albany (who would become James VII) and his wife, Mary of Modena, lived at Holyroodhouse. They brought a lively court to Edinburgh. When James became king in 1685, he set up a Jesuit college near the palace. However, anti-Catholic groups destroyed parts of the chapel and college in 1688.
Quiet Times and Royal Visits: The 1700s and 1800s
After Scotland and England joined in 1707, the palace was used less often. The King's rooms were neglected, and other nobles lived in parts of the palace.
Holyroodhouse briefly became a royal home again in 1745. Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, stayed there for six weeks during the Jacobite Rising. He held dances and parties in the Great Gallery. Later, soldiers staying in the palace damaged royal paintings.
The area around Holyrood Abbey was a special place where people in debt could hide from their creditors. This "debtors' sanctuary" meant they couldn't be arrested there. A small community grew up around the palace.
After the French Revolution, Comte d'Artois, the exiled brother of the French king, lived at Holyroodhouse from 1796 to 1803. The palace was updated for him. He used the debtors' sanctuary to avoid his own creditors.
In 1822, King George IV was the first reigning monarch since 1641 to visit Holyroodhouse. He ordered repairs and said that Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms should be kept as they were. From 1824 to 1834, many old buildings around the palace were taken down, and the south side was rebuilt.
In 1830, Charles X of France returned to Holyroodhouse after being exiled again. He stayed with his family until 1832. Since 1834, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has used the palace during the Church's annual meeting. This tradition continues today.
Queen Victoria first visited Scotland in 1842. She couldn't stay at Holyroodhouse then due to an illness nearby. But in 1850, she and Prince Albert stayed there after renovations. The King's Apartments were made ready for them. In 1854, Mary, Queen of Scots' historic rooms were officially opened to the public. Queen Victoria last stayed at the palace in 1886.
Modern Times: 1900s to Today
King George V made Holyroodhouse a modern palace. He added central heating, electric lights, new bathrooms, and a lift. In 1922, a statue of Edward VII was put in the Forecourt as a memorial. The palace was officially named the monarch's official residence in Scotland. It became a place for regular royal events.
Today, the British monarch spends one week each summer at Holyroodhouse. This is called 'Royal Week'. During this time, the Scottish version of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is flown. When the King is not there, the Royal Banner of Scotland is displayed.
After Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022, her coffin was brought to the palace. It rested in the Throne Room before being taken to St Giles' Cathedral. This was the first time a monarch's funeral events were held in Scotland since 1543.
The palace hosts many important events. These include special ceremonies, meetings, and dinners. Garden parties are held in the beautiful gardens. The King also meets with important people like the First Minister of Scotland in the Morning Drawing Room.
Holyroodhouse has welcomed many famous visitors from around the world. These include kings from Norway and Sweden, and leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev and Nelson Mandela. A meeting of the European Council was held here in 1992.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse belongs to the Crown. The Scottish Government takes care of its upkeep. The Royal Collection Trust manages public visits. Money from visitors helps the Trust care for the Royal Collection. In 2016, a big project started to improve the outside areas, including Holyrood Abbey and the gardens. This project finished in 2018.
Palace Design and Architecture
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The Palace of Holyroodhouse you see today was mostly designed by Sir William Bruce. It was built between 1671 and 1678. The only older part is the 16th-century north-west tower built by James V.
The palace is built around a central, square courtyard. It has three main floors plus an attic. The palace is about 230 feet (70 meters) long and 230 feet (70 meters) wide. The old north-west tower has a matching tower on the south-west side. Both have round turrets with pointed roofs.
These towers are connected by a two-story front with the main entrance. Above the entrance are the carved Royal arms of Scotland. The architect Robert Reid made repairs between 1824 and 1834. He rebuilt part of the south-west tower and refaced the whole south side.
Inside the courtyard, Bruce designed a covered walkway with nine arches on three sides. Different types of columns are used to show the importance of each floor. Simple columns are on the ground floor. More decorative columns are on the first floor for the State Apartments. The most fancy columns are on the second floor for the royal apartments.
The palace was chosen by historian Dan Cruickshank as one of Britain's best buildings in a 2002 BBC book.
Inside the Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse has 289 rooms and covers a huge area. The King and other Royal Family members have private apartments on the second floor. Seventeen rooms are open to the public. These include the 17th-century State Apartments, the Great Gallery, and the 16th-century rooms in James V's Tower.
State Apartments
The Great Stair in the south-west corner has a beautiful 17th-century ceiling. It features plaster angels holding the Honours of Scotland, which are the Scottish crown jewels. Italian paintings on the walls show scenes from old stories. These were bought by Prince Albert in 1856.
At the top of the stairs are the West Drawing Room and the Royal Dining Room. The Dining Room was once part of the Queen's Apartments. It has decorations from around 1800. The room is still used for dining today. It has portraits of famous figures like Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria. It also has a 3,000-piece silver dining set.
The King's Apartments were on the south and east sides of the courtyard. These rooms became more private and fancy as you went further in. The Throne Room was originally the King's Guard Chamber. It has a throne and canopy, used for important meetings. Queen Victoria used it as a dining room before it became the Throne Room in 1871. The current throne chairs were made for George V in 1911. The room has oak-paneled walls and paintings of past royals.
The Evening Drawing Room was where important visitors met the King. Its fancy plaster ceiling is part of the original design. The Royal Family uses this room for receptions today. The Morning Drawing Room was the King's private room. Its ceiling has cherubs and eagles with Charles II's symbol. French tapestries show stories about Diana, the goddess of the hunt. King Charles III uses this room for private meetings with Scottish leaders.
The King's Antechamber, Bedchamber, and Closet are on the east side of the palace. The King's Bedchamber has the most beautiful 17th-century plaster ceiling. It also has paintings of Hercules. The 17th-century State Bed has been in the palace since 1684. The King's Closet was designed as the King's study.
The Great Gallery
The Great Gallery is the largest room in the palace, measuring 150 feet (45 meters) long. It connects the King's Closet to James V's Tower. The most striking feature is the 96 portraits of Scottish monarchs. These paintings were done by the Dutch artist Jacob de Wet between 1684 and 1686. They show both real and legendary kings, starting with Fergus I. These portraits celebrate Scotland's long royal history.
The Great Gallery has been used for many things over the years. After Scotland and England united in 1707, it was where Scottish nobles were chosen for the House of Lords. Bonnie Prince Charlie held dances here. Later, soldiers stayed in the Gallery. It was even a Catholic chapel for a time. Today, it's used for large events like special ceremonies and banquets. The Gallery also has the Tam o' Shanter Chair, a special oak armchair. It was made from wood from the old church in the poem "Tam o' Shanter" by Robert Burns.
James V's Tower
The rooms on the first floor of James V's Tower include the Queen's Antechamber and the Queen's Bedchamber. These rooms were once used by Lord Darnley. After the palace was rebuilt, they became part of the Queen's Apartments. The Duke of Hamilton later took over these rooms. Much of the decoration in these rooms is from the mid-1800s. The Antechamber has tapestries and portraits of Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia.
The Queen's Bedroom is famous for the "Darnley" bed. This bed was actually made for the Duke of Hamilton in 1682. But Bonnie Prince Charlie slept in it in 1745, linking it to the Stuarts. A small spiral staircase connects this room to Mary, Queen of Scots' Bedchamber upstairs.
The rooms on the second floor of James V's Tower were where Mary, Queen of Scots lived from 1561 to 1567. Mary Queen of Scots' Outer Chamber was where she met visitors. It's also where David Rizzio, her private secretary, was murdered. This room now displays items related to the Stuart and Jacobite families.
Among the items is an embroidery of a cat and a mouse, made by Mary while she was held captive. This might represent her relationship with her cousin, Elizabeth I of England, with Mary as the mouse and Elizabeth as the cat. The "Darnley Jewel" was likely made for Lord Darnley's mother. It has symbols and words about her hopes for her grandson, the future James VI. The Memorial to Lord Darnley was also made after his murder. It might hint at Queen Mary's involvement in his death.
Mary, Queen of Scots' Bedchamber has an oak ceiling from her time. It has the initials "IR" (for James V) and "MR" (for Mary, Queen). Below the ceiling is a painted border showing the Honours of Scotland.
Gardens and Grounds
The palace gardens cover about 10 acres (4 hectares). They are part of the much larger Holyrood Park. In the 1500s, there was a private garden north of the palace. This was removed in 1857 when Prince Albert helped redesign the grounds.
A small 16th-century building, called Queen Mary's Bath House, still stands. But it's not thought to have been used for bathing. The sundial north of the palace was carved in 1633. The stone fountain in the middle of the Forecourt was built in 1858. It looks like a 16th-century fountain at Linlithgow Palace.
The decorative gates and railings around the Forecourt were put up in 1920. They are a memorial to Edward VII. A statue of Edward was also unveiled there in 1922. Buildings west of the Forecourt include the Gatehouse, old Guard Rooms, the Coach House, and the Café at the Palace. The King's Gallery is also in this area.
In 1987, Holyrood Palace and Park were added to Scotland's list of important gardens and designed landscapes.
"Big Royal Dig"
In 2006, archaeologists from the TV show Time Team dug at Holyroodhouse. They found parts of Holyrood Abbey's old cloister. They also found a square tower from James IV's building work in the 1400s. The team looked for Queen Mary's old tennis court but couldn't find it. They also found a patch of reddened earth, which might be from the burning of Holyrood in 1544. Among the items found were a seal used for documents and an old French coin.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Holyrood para niños
- Holyrood (disambiguation)
- Historic Environment Scotland (This group helps look after Holyrood Abbey)
