King Charles traditionally enjoys a royal summer break in Scotland, swapping the hustle and bustle of city life at his primary residence, Clarence House, for the rolling countryside of Balmoral Castle. While Balmoral is his private royal residence in Aberdeenshire, the monarch's official residence in Scotland is the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. In gratitude for his narrow escape, King David built Holyrood Abbey (known as the Abbey of the Holy Cross) in 1128. Inside the royal family's Scottish residence© Getty King Charles spends time at the royal residence for Royal WeekKing David I originally founded Holyrood Abbey as an Augustinian monastery in 1128. It wasn't until around 1501 that King James IV converted the guesthouse into a royal palace, making it a home to monarchs for over 500 years.