'Dunfermline Palace' is a former
Scottish royal palace in
Dunfermline,
Fife.
The Palace of Dunfermline stood next to
Dunfermline Abbey, occupying a picturesque position next to the gorge. It was rebuilt by
James IV in
1500 and was a favourite residence of
Scottish monarchs. James IV,
James V,
Mary, Queen of Scots and
James VI all spent much of their time here. The palace was given as a wedding present to
Anne of Denmark after her marriage to James VI in
1589. Prior to the
Union of the Crowns in
1603 Anne of Denmark often stayed at the palace, and she gave birth to three of her children here; Elizabeth, Robert and
Charles I in
1600.
David II and
James I of Scotland were also born at Dunfermline.
After Charles I's Scottish
coronation in
1633 he paid a short visit to his birthplace. The last monarch to occupy the palace was
Charles II who stayed at Dunfermline just before the
Battle of Pitreavie in
1650. It was abandoned soon afterwards, and unroofed by
1708. All that is now left of the palace is the south wall and the kitchen.