What can you see on this post box? Do you know the way you can date a post box to the monarch? This one has a crown with E and R either side. This indicates Queen Elizabeth who is Scotland’s first Queen Elizabeth, however, a postbox installed at the same time in England has ERII for Elizabeth the Second. Dunfermline has been referred to the ‘Ancient Royal Capital of Scotland’ since the 1800s but there is no written evidence if the ‘ancients’ ever called it that. However, it is documented as the burial site for 7 kings, 6 queens, 2 princesses and 2 princes replacing Isle of Iona for royal burials. Many other Barons and high ranking families are also said to be buried here.
Did you know that Dunfermline still has a direct link to the current Windsor royals? When James VI of Scotland gifted Dunfermline to his new wife Queen Anne of Denmark as a wedding gift in 1589, she was very keen to spend time here. The Palace was redesigned and what remains can be visited, see Historic Environment Scotland website for details below.
On one of her visits, she gave birth to Charles I who reigned Great Britain 1625 to 1649 until notoriously behead by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. You can see the garter worn by Charles at is execution on a visit to Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. The Stuart line ran out with Charles’ granddaughter Queen Anne in 1714 that is not the connection.
Charles’ sister, Elizabeth (1596-1662), born in Dunfermline, married Frederick, latterly King of Bohemia and their grandson was George of Hanover who took the throne in 1714 on Queen Anne’s death without successor. So, Dunfermline’s contribution to royalty maintains a strong link to today’s royals. Not bad for a wee town in the south-west of Fife.