Welcome to Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is Her Majesty The Queen’s Official Residence in Scotland and is the setting for state ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen’s Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty holds investitures in the Great Gallery, audiences in the Morning Drawing Room and a garden party and entertains around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life.

At the start of Her Majesty’s visit, the Palace forecourt is transformed into a crowded and colourful parade ground, where 700 guests stand to watch the enactment of an ancient ceremony – the Presentation of the Keys of the City of Edinburgh.

While The Queen is in residence, the Scottish variant of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is flown and the Royal Company of Archers forms her ceremonial bodyguard. Occasionally the Palace is used by the Royal Family at other times of the year. In September 2010 The Queen received Pope Benedict XVI in the Morning Drawing Room during his official visit to the United Kingdom. The Royal Family also stayed at Holyroodhouse at the time of the wedding of Zara Phillips, The Queen’s granddaughter, in Canongate Kirk, on 30 July 2011.