edinburgh31 AD 1566 King James VI is Born in the Castle On 8 December 1542, Princess Mary was born in Linlithgow Palace. Six days later her father, James V, lay dead at Falkland Palace. The tiny baby became Mary, Queen of Scots, with a claim also to the throne of England. In July 1565, Mary married her first cousin and second husband, Henry, Lord Darnley. Almost a year later, on 19 June 1566, she gave birth to their child, Prince James, here in the castle. The national rejoicing did not last long. Over the next two years, Mary lost her second husband, remarried, was captured and imprisoned, escaped and ultimately fled into exile in England. Her son succeeded to the throne of Scotland as James VI and on the death of Elizabeth I 1603 became James I of England. After more than three centuries during which English Kings had attempted by force to take the Scottish throne, it was a Scottish King who took the Crown of England without a shot being fired in anger.