Stone of Destiny heads south for coronation

The Stone of Destiny has near Edinburgh Castle for the archetypal clip successful much than 25 years arsenic it heads to London for the Coronation of King Charles III.

The stone, an past awesome of Scotland's monarchy, was seized by King Edward I of England successful the precocious 13th Century and taken to Westminster Abbey.

It remained successful England for 700 years and formed portion of the Coronation Chair connected which kings and queens were crowned.

The chromatic was returned for imperishable show successful Scotland successful 1996.

But it was was agreed it would instrumentality to Westminster Abbey for immoderate aboriginal Coronation ceremony.

The 150kg (336lb) reddish sandstone slab, besides known arsenic the Stone of Scone, is 66cm (26in) long, 42cm (17in) wide, and 27cm (10.5in) high.

It was utilized for the coronation of Scots kings for hundreds of years earlier being taken by Edward I of England successful 1296, during the Wars of Independence.

He made the chromatic portion of a carved oak Coronation Chair which has been utilized during the inauguration of 26 Kings and queens astatine Westminster Abbey since.

The chromatic stayed successful England for hundreds of years, until Christmas Day successful 1950 erstwhile 4 students from Glasgow broke into Westminster Abbey and took it backmost to Scotland.

They were pb by Ian Hamilton, who wanted to marque a connection astir Scottish self-rule.

Mr Hamilton, who died past year, told the BBC successful a uncommon interview: "The Stone of Destiny is Scotland's icon,.

"In 1 of the galore invasions by the English into Scotland, they took distant the awesome of our nation.

"To bring it backmost was a precise symbolic gesture."

The chromatic reappeared months aboriginal 500 miles distant successful Arbroath Abbey - a spot that was important to Scotland's independency history.

On 11 April 1951, it was returned to Westminster Abbey and replaced successful the Coronation Chair wherever 2 years aboriginal it had a greater prominence than ever arsenic Queen Elizabeth's coronation was broadcast connected television.

In July 1996, the Queen, on with Prime Minister John Major, agreed the chromatic should beryllium returned to Scotland.

It present sits adjacent to the crown jewels of Scotland successful the Edinburgh Castle Crown Room.

In mentation for its impermanent departure to London, a ceremonial procession took spot from the castle's Great Hall, led by the Lord Lyon King of Arms - the monarch's typical successful Scotland.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf was successful attendance successful his capableness arsenic the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES), who attraction for the stone, worked with Police Scotland to guarantee it could beryllium transported safely and securely.

It volition beryllium transported successful a peculiar bearer constructed mostly from Scottish oak, which has been made by HES's in-house joinery team.

Kathy Richmond, caput of collections and applied conservation, said it was a large work to guarantee the harmless voyage and instrumentality of specified an important nationalist symbol.

Mr Yousaf said the chromatic had a affluent and varied past and had been utilized for centuries successful coronations.

The chromatic volition instrumentality to Edinburgh Castle successful the weeks pursuing the Coronation, earlier it makes its mode to Perth successful 2024 to beryllium housed successful the caller Perth Museum.