James III and VIII (The Old Pretender) never came to Edinburgh. However, during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 his son Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie, Young Pretender) stayed near Edinburgh and actually held Court in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. On 16 September 1745, Charles and his army encamped outside the city at Gray's Mill in Longstone. The Lord Provost Archibald Stewart controlled the city, which quickly surrendered, although the Castle under the command of George Preston did not surrender and was blockaded until Charles later called off the siege owing to a lack of artillery. On 17 September, Charles entered Edinburgh, accompanied by around 2,400 men. It was from Edinburgh Charles began is march south into England.
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