The Return of the Stone of Destiny to Scotland

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The Return of the Stone of Destiny to Scotland

The Duke of York on West Parliament Square

The Duke of York inspecting the guard of honour

The guard of honour with the Duke of York

The Duke of York Inspecting the Guard of Honour

The Pursivants and Heralds leading the procession

Going to St Giles Cathedral for the service

Going into St Giles for the service for the return of the Stone of Destiny

Going into St Giles Cathedral for a service for the return of the Stone of Destiny

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards leading the procession

The Royal Company of Archers escorting the Stone of Destiny

The Stone of Destiny being escorted to Edinburgh Castle

The Stone of Destiny going to Edinburgh Castle [the final journey]

The Stone of Destiny being returned to Edinburgh Castle

The Stone of Destiny

The Stone of Destiny sat for 700 years under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey.  The stone was taken as the spoils of war from Scotland in 1296 by King Edward I of England.

The stone known as The Stone of Destiny or The Stone of Scone was reputed to be the stone on which all Scottish Kings were crowned.  The Stone is surrounded by myth and mystery.  It was said to have been brought  from the Holy Land to Scotland and it is believed to have been the biblical Jacob's Pillow.

On St Andrew's Day 30 November 1996, this Stone was returned to Edinburgh Castle to be displayed beside Scotland's other Honours.  

The Stone of Destiny is said to be a symbol of Scottish nationhood and is a very important part of Scotland's past history.  In 1328 the Treaty of Northampton was signed and Edward III promised the Stone's return to Scotland - but that never happened.

In 1951 a group of patriotic Scottish students succeeded in a daring raid to recapture the Stone and return it to Scotland.  They took the Stone of Destiny, and a major search began as the country was searched high and low.  Roadblocks were set up at the border, and the students were eventually found, although no charges were ever brought against them.

The Stone of Destiny now sits proudly in Edinburgh Castle for all to see - and some would say that the Stone of Destiny has come home at last to where it rightfully belongs.

 

Written by Andrew Murphy of Edinburgh

Video and Soundtrack produced by Andrew Murphy

St Andrew's Day 30 November 1996 [St Andrew is the Apostle Patron of Scotland]

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