Palace of HolyroodhouseEdit profile
Holyrood Palace is built beside the earlier Holyrood Abbey where Kings of Scotland were crowned. The abbey, the remains of which can still be seen (to the left of the Palace) was built by King David I in 1128. Much altered over the centuries, reroofing in 1758 with stone slab caused the vaulting to collapse ten years later. The abbey has been a ruin ever since.
In the 15th century, the Abbot’s guest house became used by the Kings of Scotland as their Edinburgh residence in prefernce to Edinburgh castle which was deemed uncomfortable. In the 16th century it became the main Royal residence with the abbey becoming the Chapel Royal.
The Palace as we see it today, is a product of the late 17th century. It was rebuilt as a Viceregal Residence. The Palace has two eleborate gateways, one to the bottom of the Royal Mile and another leading towards Arthur’s Seat. Still in use today, the Palace is open to the public and is the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen. During The Queen's Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland.