The fortress where Mary gave birth to the future James VI in 1566.
What happened here?
Edinburgh Castle has sat on its volcanic rock as a seat of royal and military power for centuries. In June 1566, Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth here to her son — the future James VI of Scotland, and eventually James I of England too.
Why does this matter to Mary's story?
This is where Mary's line continued. James VI's birth here mattered enormously: he was the son who would go on, in 1603, to unite the Scottish and English crowns under one monarch for the first time — the moment the Stuart dynasty stopped being a purely Scottish story.
What happened next?
James VI went on to rule both kingdoms from London. The castle remained a working fortress, later held by government forces against a failed Jacobite attempt to seize it in 1715. Today it holds the Honours of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny.
What to look for while you're here
- The small room in the Royal Palace buildings traditionally identified as where James VI was born.
- The Honours of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny, both on public display.
- Mons Meg, the huge 15th-century siege cannon, and the One O'Clock Gun — not connected to Mary's story, but part of why this is Scotland's most visited site.