The famous Stone of Destiny will be moved from Edinburgh Castle during King Charles’ coronation.
The stone is an intrinsic part of the royal ceremony and a symbol of royalty on both sides of the border.
Once the date of the coronation is held, a team of professionals will transfer the red sandstone weighing 24 stone (152 kg) and known as the Stone of Scone from the Crown Room of the castle.
The castle will be taken to Westminster Abbey by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The famous Stone of Destiny will be relocated from Edinburgh Castle for King Charles III’s coronation.
Last night, a spokesperson for HES informed The Mail on Sunday, ‘It will be relocated by Historic Environment Scotland from the castle to the coronation, immediately prior to the coronation. It will then be returned to Scotland.’
In 1953, when Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey, her throne was positioned atop the stone.
After centuries as a symbol of Scottish monarchy, it was captured by English soldiers commanded by King Edward I in 1296 and taken to Westminster Abbey, where it was incorporated onto his throne to demonstrate that Edward, known as the “Hammer of the Scots,” had conquered Scotland.
There it stayed for centuries until 1950, when it was “reclaimed” by Scottish Nationalists. On Christmas Day, four Scottish students launched an audacious raid into Westminster Abbey and returned with the stone to Scotland.
In 1996, the Duke of York transferred the Royal Warrant for the safekeeping of the Stone of Destiny to the Scottish Secretary at the time, Michael Forsyth.
English detectives were forced to scramble to find it. Three months later, however, it was located on the high altar of the ruined Arbroath Abbey in Angus County.
It was transferred returned to Westminster Abbey in time for Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, where it remained until 1996.
To commemorate the 700th anniversary of the stone’s removal from Scotland, it was restored to Edinburgh Castle on St. Andrew’s Day, 1996, with the approval of the Queen.
Former Prime Minister John Major addressed the House of Commons at the time: “With permission, I would want to make a remark about the Stone of Destiny.”
On the recommendation of Her Majesty’s ministers, Her Majesty has agreed that the stone should be restored to Scotland.
On the 700th anniversary of its deportation from Scotland, I believe it is time to return it to its original home.