The fortunes of the Palace of Holyroodhouse would descend to their lowest ebb. While the troops of Oliver Cromwell were billeted there in 1651, fire broke out and the Palace was badly damaged. Years of neglect followed, as Scotland too was devastated by civil war, made worse by the clan loyalties of the Highlanders. Holyrood's renaissance came in 1660, with the restoration of the monarchy. Its saviour was Charles II. If you met Charles at a dinner party, you would find him immensely charming. I mean, he was clearly one of those people who had that, sort of spot light quality, in that when he talked to you, you would think you were the only person in the room. He was a person who had that sort of glamour that makes him a hugely popular figure at times. You know, he would definitely be, as it were, a celebrity without trying.


荷里路德宫盛极而衰，到了最低潮。1651年克伦威尔的部队在此驻守时，宫殿起火，受到严重损毁。宫殿多年失修，因苏格兰受内战蹂躏，高地人氏族不和，令情况更加恶劣。1660年君主制恢复，荷里路德宫亦中兴，它的救命恩人是查理二世。 如果你在晚宴中遇上查理，你会觉得他魅力没法挡。他是那种令人瞩目的人物，跟你交谈时，你会以为整个房间只有你一个。他很有风采，令他大受欢迎，轻而易举，成为万众瞩目的名人，