Holyrood Palace, Royal residence at Royal Mile, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the Royal Family in Edinburgh and stands at the eastern end of the Royal Mile. The complex includes several courtyards, private chambers, and palace gardens that extend toward Arthur's Seat.
In the twelfth century, monks founded an abbey here that later became the core of the royal residence. Charles II ordered the palace rebuilt in the baroque style during the seventeenth century, after earlier parts were damaged by fire and war.
The Throne Room hosts audiences and official events where the monarch receives foreign dignitaries. Tapestries and throne chairs from the seventeenth century decorate the room, where courtly rituals still follow old traditions.
The visit typically begins in the state chambers and moves through several floors, with steps and staircases throughout. Those wishing to spend more time should plan at least two hours to explore the different rooms and the garden.
Mary Stuart occupied the northwest chambers during her years in Scotland, and her rooms remained largely in their original arrangement. Visitors can see the narrow spiral staircases through which her confidants secretly reached her.
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