An abbey and a palace
Holyrood Abbey was founded in 1128 by David I. James IV built a Gothic palace next to it between 1501 and 1505, and James V added to it from 1528, beginning with the tower that is now the oldest surviving part of the palace.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots lived in the tower’s royal apartments from 1561 until her forced abdication in 1567. On 9 March 1566 her private secretary, David Rizzio, was killed in her apartments, one of the best-known events in the palace’s history.
Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria
Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, held court at the palace for about six weeks in the autumn of 1745 and hosted balls in the Great Gallery. Queen Victoria stayed at Holyrood in 1850, and in 1871 she took over the apartments on its second floor.



