Major - General Aytoun, and the Duc d'Angouleme

Despite the unsettled mood of the time, Charles was received with unexpected warmth on his arrival in Edinburgh, marked by spontaneous gestures of respect from ordinary citizens and public expressions of goodwill. During his residence at Holyrood, he and his family lived quietly and modestly, earning admiration through their generosity to the poor, support of local charities, and dignified conduct. Charles himself led a reflective, almost melancholy life, often walking alone or reading in seclusion, though he remained active and sociable when circumstances allowed. When political pressure forced the royal family to leave Scotland in 1832, their departure was met with widespread regret, heartfelt addresses from the city’s leaders, and emotional farewells from crowds who had come to esteem the exiled family for their virtue, humility, and kindness in misfortune.