When James VII revived the Order in 1687 , he wanted the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to be the Chapel for the Order of the Thistle , perhaps copying the idea from the Order of the Garter ( whose chapel is located in Windsor Castle ) . When James VII created the modern Order in 1687 , he directed that the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyroodhouse be converted to a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle , perhaps copying the idea from the Order of the Garter ( whose chapel is located in Windsor Castle ) .