Hermitage Castleįrom Jedburgh, Mary travelled on horseback to visit James Hepburn, the Earl of Bothwell, her future husband, at Hermitage Castle.

One of the places she stayed at is thought to be what is now known as ‘Mary, Queen of Scots House’ in Jedburgh, which is now a museum, open to visitors. Mary spent some time in the Scottish Borders in October 1566. You can visit the room where the future James VI of Scotland and I of England was born. Edinburgh Castleĭespite the many problems that Mary and Darnley were having, Mary gave birth to a son, James, on 19 June 1566 in the Royal Palace at Edinburgh Castle. You can also see the oratory where she was allowed to attend Catholic mass – it was the only place where she could practice her religion, as Scotland was becoming a Protestant country following the Scottish Reformation. As Mary was now a widow, it was expected that she would find a new husband and provide an heir. Various suitors were considered, but in the end she married her English, Catholic cousin Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, in July 1565 at Holyrood Palace.

Mary resumed her reign of Scotland from her residence in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. With her husband and her father-in-law dead, no allies at the French court, and a kingdom to run back home, Mary returned to Scotland, arriving at the port of Leith just outside Edinburgh on 19 August 1561. Together they ruled France until Francis’ death in December 1560, when he was only 16 and Mary was 18. Mary married Francis in April 1558, and they became King and Queen of France on the death of King Henri the following year. Mary in FranceĪ marriage treaty with the French royal family was signed in July 1548, and Mary was officially betrothed to the 4-year-old Dauphin Prince Francis. It was decided that Mary should be brought up at the French royal court, and so in August 1548 at the age of 5, she set sail from Dumbarton for a new life in France. Her mother, Marie de Guise, stayed behind and competed with Scottish nobles to rule in Mary’s place. This impressive Scottish fortress which sits on top of a 350 million-year-old volcanic rock has a history dating back to the 13th century and has been a refuge for many Scottish monarchs. In February 1548 Mary was moved to Dumbarton Castle, just outside Glasgow.

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