Isabel lived during a time of great struggle between England and Scotland. Her husband was a supporter of Edward I, a king who wished to hammer the Scots into submission.

Isabel, however, was known to harbor strong feelings for her native Scotland.

Another patriot by the name of Robert the Bruce had decided to crown himself King of Scotland in defiance to English rule on March 25, 1306 at Scone Abbey in Scotland.

Isabel’s brother, now the teenage Earl of Fife, held within his hereditary duty the right to crown the Kings of Scotland. Alas, he would be unable to perform the ceremony because he was still a ward in England. It is uncertain how or when Isabel heard of Bruce's coronation, but she took her husband’s horses and sped to Scone. She intended to perform her brother's duty by proxy.

To her dismay, Isabel found that she had arrived at Scone a day too late. The Bruce had already been coronated in a modestly prepared ceremony. Even so, the importance of Isabel's role in the crowning was realized, and the ceremony was repeated again on March 27, 1306.

For Isabel, there was no turning back. She stayed on with Robert’s family, whom had been traveling with him.