The ancient sandstone boulder left Edinburgh today after 25 years to reach Westminster Abbey
He left Edinburgh Castle for the first time in more than 25 years Stone of Destinyon its way to Westminster Abbey in London for the coronation of Charles III. Ancient symbol of the Scottish monarchy and seized by King Edward I of England in 1296 during the Wars of Independence, the stone has been part of the coronation chair used by Scottish monarchs for hundreds of years. After being in England for 700 years, she was returned to Scotland in 1996provided he could return to Westminster Abbey for any future coronation.
Made of red sandstone and also known as the Stone of Scone, it weighs 150 kilograms, is 66 centimeters long, 42 centimeters wide and 27 centimeters high. At Westminster Abbey it has already been used for the coronation of 26 kings and queens. Until Christmas Day 1950, when four Glasgow students raided Westminster Abbey and took it back to Scotland. “The stone of destiny is the icon of Scotland” and “bringing it back was a very symbolic gesture”, Ian Hamilton, the student who led the group of four, told the BBC. The stone was later found at 800 miles away at Arbroath Abbey, an important place in the history of Scotland’s independence.
On 11 April 1951 the Stone of Scone was returned to Westminster Abbey and placed in the Coronation Chair where Queen Elizabeth would be crowned two years later in a televised ceremony. In July 1996, the Queen agreed, along with Prime Minister John Major, to return the Stone of Destiny to Scotland. There that moment, the stone it is located inside Edinburgh Castle, in the Crown Room, alongside the Jewels of the Scottish Monarchy. His temporary move to London was accompanied today by a ceremony in the castle’s Great Hall, led by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the monarch’s representative in Scotland. He was also attended by Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf as Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.
Looking after the stone is Historic Environment Scotland (HEB), who worked with Edinburgh Police to ensure it could be transported safely and securely within a structure made from Scottish oak. The stone will return to Edinburgh Castle in the weeks following Charles III’s coronationbefore reaching Perth in 2024 to be kept in the new Perth Museum.
Source-www.adnkronos.com