Scotland - Edinburgh - Palace of Holyroodhouse

The front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse starting on the left....

Middle....

and right.  The palace as it stands today was built between 1671–1678 in a quadrangle layout for Charles II, upon the restoration of the monarchy.

Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, with Edinburgh Castle at the opposite end, the Palace of Holyroodhouse has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 16th century, and is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scotland was supported by two unicorns, Scotland's national animal.  Pictures are not allowed inside the palace.  There is an internal quadrangle with nine arches on each side.  Each of the three levels have columns that indicate the importance of the three main floors. The plain Doric order is used for the services at ground floor, the Ionic order is used for the state apartments on the first floor, while the elaborate Corinthian order is used for the royal apartments on the second floor. 

The ruined Augustinian Holyrood Abbey that is sited in the grounds was founded in 1128 at the order of King David I of Scotland

The abbey was the site of many royal funerals and interments, mostly in the east bay of the south aisle, known as the "Royal Vault". Royals originally interred here include:King David II in 1371, King James II in 1460, and King James V in 1542.