In any case, the marriage was, in effect, a failure and a very unhappy and difficult affair. However, on 19 June 1566, Mary did have the great joy of welcoming her son into the world at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
At the time of James' birth, Mary was an unpopular Queen and her marriage was in shambles, as previously stated. Her rule over Scotland was insecure and was being threatened by Protestant rebels. With the recent murder of David Rizzio, the monarchy couldn't take much more scandal, so the birth of the new Prince was a great relief and reason to celebrate in Scotland!
However, it would be overshadowed by the mysterious murder of James' father, Lord Darnley the following February, as the result of an unexplained explosion in Edinburgh - perhaps in retaliation of Rizzio's murder??
With his father dead, James would inherit the titles of Duke of Albany and Earl of Ross. Only three months after that, his mother the Queen would marry James Hepburn - the suspected murderer of Lord Darnley, which would only increase the people's dislike for the Queen.
One month later, Mary Queen of Scots would be arrested and taken away from her one-year-old son - never to see him again.
So, as you can see, James had a pretty eventful and unhappy first year of life. At the time of his birth, his parents were already unpopular enough, but by the time he would turn one year old, he would have a stepfather and an arrested mother whom he would never remember! Such was the difficult life that too often plagued children during the sixteenth-century...
The rest of James' childhood would continue to be precarious and unsteady. He would be in and out of the care of several guardians, who's treatment of him would vary widely. He was thought to be a highly intelligent, somewhat vain child, which would carry on throughout his life.
So what is his relationship to the Tudors? Not only was he born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, he was the great-great-grandchild of Henry VII, through Henry VIII's older sister Margaret. Being of Tudor blood, he would inherit the English throne upon Elizabeth I's death in 1603, when he would become King James I of England. Fun fact: He is also the current Queen of England's 9th-great-grandfather!
Happy Birthday, James!