Holyrood Abbey abbey's position close to Edinburgh Castle meant that it was often visited by Scotland's kings, who were lodged in the guest house situated to the west of the abbey cloister. In the mid-15th century, with the emergence of Edinburgh as the main seat of the royal court and the chief city in the kingdom, the Kings of Scots increasingly used the accommodation at Holyrood for secular purposes. James II and his twin brother Alexander, Duke of Rothesay, were born there in October 1430. James was also crowned at Holyrood in 1437 and building works were carried out before his marriage
Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine (23 April 1809 - 20 March 1877) was the second surviving son of Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse and Wilhelmine of Baden. In 1836, Charles married Princess Elisabeth of Prussia (1815 - 1885), daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (brother of Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia) and Maria Anna of Hesse-Homburg. They were unhappy together as Charles preferred life in the military to spending time with his family. On 19 March 1877, Queen Victoria received a telegram from her daughter Alice, wife of Charles' son