I toured the Queen's 'haunted' royal residence in Scotland to learn more about its murderous history

Mikhaila FrielNov 21, 2020, 18:55 IST

I spent a day at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh, Scotland.Mikhaila Friel/Insider

I spent Friday the 13th at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
It's rumored to have been haunted ever since Mary Queen of Scots' private secretary was murdered there.
The palace is used as the current royal family's official residence in Edinburgh. Princess Anne has said she doesn't believe that it's haunted.
I explored the palace using a guided audio tour with narrations from the royal family themselves.
While I can't say for certain whether it's haunted, it's certainly the creepiest royal residence I have ever visited.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh — Queen Elizabeth II's official residence when she visits Scotland — has a dark history. It's where Mary Queen of Scots' private secretary, David Rizzio, was stabbed to death in Her Majesty's private chambers back in 1566.

Some historians believe it was the Queen's husband who orchestrated the murder, as he believed Mary — who was heavily pregnant at the time — was having an affair with Rizzio.

In the years that followed, Holyrood Palace has been widely considered to be haunted, with some visitors insisting that you can still see the bloodstain near the window where Rizzio was killed.

I wanted to see for myself whether the place that our current Queen considers her home away from home is as eerie as it is made out to be, so I chose to spend Friday, November 13, at the famous palace. Here's what it was like inside.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was a 16th-century palace of the Stuarts and today serves as Queen Elizabeth II's official residence when she visits Scotland.

An aerial view of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. De Agostini Editorial/Getty Images

It's centrally located in the city near Edinburgh's Old Town at the end of the Royal Mile. It also sits on Holyrood Park, which is open to the public.

The map on the left shows where the palace is in relation to the rest of the UK, while the map on the right shows where it is located in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. Google Maps.

The history of the palace is a bloody one, and today, it's said to be haunted.

The palace in 1753. Universal Images Group/Getty Images

I went to visit Holyrood Palace on a cold Friday the 13th in November. It was just a one-hour train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley station, followed by a 15-minute walk to the Queen's residence in the city center.

My view of Edinburgh Castle from the platform at Edinburgh Waverley train station. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

I went to visit Holyrood Palace on a cold Friday the 13th in November. It was just a one-hour train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley station, followed by a 15-minute walk to the Queen's residence in the city center.

The palace gates reminded me of Buckingham Palace and did not look very inviting.

There seemed to be tight security surrounding the palace. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Contrary to the impressive gates, visitors are welcome at the palace. It costs £16.50 ($21.85) for an adult ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, however, I was given a complimentary press pass.

I was given a headset upon arrival. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Contrary to the impressive gates, visitors are welcome at the palace. It costs £16.50 ($21.85) for an adult ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, however, I was given a complimentary press pass.

The audio guide instructed me to explore the palace exterior first.

The palace exterior. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Royals themselves narrate the audio tour of the palace, which caught me off guard.

A peek at my audio guide. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

The palace quadrangle was used for Zara Phillips' wedding reception in 2011. This is also where Her Majesty's office is based when she stays at the palace.

The quadrangle. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Then it was time to explore inside the palace, where I found the royal dining room. A staff member informed me that this is the room the Queen uses when she hosts official banquets, and she usually sits in the middle seat so she can speak with most of the guests.

The dining room. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Then it was time to explore inside the palace, where I found the royal dining room. A staff member informed me that this is the room the Queen uses when she hosts official banquets, and she usually sits in the middle seat so she can speak with most of the guests.

It wasn't long before Princess Anne's segment of the audio tour, where she said she didn't believe the rumors that the palace is haunted: "In spite of its history, and people say, 'oh, isn't it haunted,' I've never felt that."

This sitting room had photos of the royal family on the table. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

It wasn't long before Princess Anne's segment of the audio tour, where she said she didn't believe the rumors that the palace is haunted: "In spite of its history, and people say, 'oh, isn't it haunted,' I've never felt that."

Prince Edward, meanwhile, said during his segment of the tour that the palace always felt more like a home than a palace to him, adding that it has an "intimate and special feel which is unique among royal palaces."

The King's Closet. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Prince Edward, meanwhile, said during his segment of the tour that the palace always felt more like a home than a palace to him, adding that it has an "intimate and special feel which is unique among royal palaces."

As I climbed the dreary staircase that led to Mary Queen of Scots' bed-chamber, I found myself doubting the royals' opinions once again.

The spiral staircase. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

It was here, in Mary Queen of Scots' private chambers, that her husband Lord Darnely's plot to murder David Rizzo occured, according to the audio tour.

Mary Queen of Scots' bed chamber. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Historians say he was dragged into the next room — the outer chamber — where it's said he was stabbed 56 times by his assailants.

A murder reportedly took place in this room. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Once back outside on the grounds, I walked along the palace gardens to view the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, used as royal chambers before the palace was built.

Holyrood Abbey. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

By this point, I had been at the palace for around two hours, and I was the only visitor in this area.

Outside Holyrood Abbey. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

After I left, I realized it wasn't just the palace that was quiet — the surrounding streets were also vacant of visitors.

A quiet Edinburgh street. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Near the palace, I discovered Scottish and royal-themed gift stores. One, in particular, was selling a special tartan in memory of the late Princess Diana.

The Scottish Experience gift store. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

I then ventured over to the nearby Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and hilltop overlooking the city on Holyrood Park, just across the road from the palace.

Arthur's Seat. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Viewing the palace from this perspective was strange. After all, it wasn't as grand as Buckingham Palace. From this far away, it could pass for any regular building — not a supposedly haunted palace.

The view of the palace from Arthur's Seat. Mikhaila Friel/Insider

Viewing the palace from this perspective was strange. After all, it wasn't as grand as Buckingham Palace. From this far away, it could pass for any regular building — not a supposedly haunted palace.

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I toured the Queen's 'haunted' royal residence in Scotland to learn more about its murderous history

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh was a 16th-century palace of the Stuarts and today serves as Queen Elizabeth II's official residence when she visits Scotland.

It's centrally located in the city near Edinburgh's Old Town at the end of the Royal Mile. It also sits on Holyrood Park, which is open to the public.

The history of the palace is a bloody one, and today, it's said to be haunted.

I went to visit Holyrood Palace on a cold Friday the 13th in November. It was just a one-hour train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley station, followed by a 15-minute walk to the Queen's residence in the city center.

The palace gates reminded me of Buckingham Palace and did not look very inviting.

Contrary to the impressive gates, visitors are welcome at the palace. It costs £16.50 ($21.85) for an adult ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, however, I was given a complimentary press pass.

The audio guide instructed me to explore the palace exterior first.

Royals themselves narrate the audio tour of the palace, which caught me off guard.

The palace quadrangle was used for Zara Phillips' wedding reception in 2011. This is also where Her Majesty's office is based when she stays at the palace.

Then it was time to explore inside the palace, where I found the royal dining room. A staff member informed me that this is the room the Queen uses when she hosts official banquets, and she usually sits in the middle seat so she can speak with most of the guests.

It wasn't long before Princess Anne's segment of the audio tour, where she said she didn't believe the rumors that the palace is haunted: "In spite of its history, and people say, 'oh, isn't it haunted,' I've never felt that."

Prince Edward, meanwhile, said during his segment of the tour that the palace always felt more like a home than a palace to him, adding that it has an "intimate and special feel which is unique among royal palaces."

As I climbed the dreary staircase that led to Mary Queen of Scots' bed-chamber, I found myself doubting the royals' opinions once again.

It was here, in Mary Queen of Scots' private chambers, that her husband Lord Darnely's plot to murder David Rizzo occured, according to the audio tour.

Historians say he was dragged into the next room — the outer chamber — where it's said he was stabbed 56 times by his assailants.

Once back outside on the grounds, I walked along the palace gardens to view the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, used as royal chambers before the palace was built.

By this point, I had been at the palace for around two hours, and I was the only visitor in this area.

After I left, I realized it wasn't just the palace that was quiet — the surrounding streets were also vacant of visitors.

Near the palace, I discovered Scottish and royal-themed gift stores. One, in particular, was selling a special tartan in memory of the late Princess Diana.

I then ventured over to the nearby Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano and hilltop overlooking the city on Holyrood Park, just across the road from the palace.

Viewing the palace from this perspective was strange. After all, it wasn't as grand as Buckingham Palace. From this far away, it could pass for any regular building — not a supposedly haunted palace.