Mary Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow Palace on 8 December, 1542 and crowned in September the following year. She was promised in marriage to King Henry VIII’s son Edward. In August 1548, Mary, other royal children and their retinue sailed for France, breaking the engagement with Edward. She returned to Scotland August 1561.
Mary led a very active life and loved horse riding and dancing. She would dress up as a stable boy and escape at night into the streets of Edinburgh incognito.
The Queen’s four Maries, Mary's ladies-in-waiting were Mary Fleming, considered chief among them by reason of her mother's royal blood, Lady Fleming; Mary Seton, daughter of George, 6th Lord of Seton; Mary Beaton, daughter of Robert Beaton of Creich and grand-daughter of Sir John Beaton, the hereditary keeper of Falkland Palace, and finally Mary Livingston, daughter of Mary Stuart's guardian, Lord Livingston. Mary Seton never married and remained faithful to the Queen until the very end when Mary sent her away to retire.