The Scottish icon at the centre of next weekend's coronation ceremony
The Stone of Destiny will be taken to London (again)
Last updated 27th Apr 2023
The for the first time in more than a quarter of a century the Stone of Destiny will return to England to play a key part in the crowning of King Charles III beneath the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey.
After more than 700 years in London it was returned to Scotland, and a new home in Edinburgh Castle, with great fanfare in a decision from the government of Conservative prime minister John Major in 1996.
Stone of legend
Also known as the Stone of Scone, it is a 125kg slab of pinkish sandstone but, despite its plain, battered look, it carries with it an enormous amount of symbolism, history and legend.
Measuring just 67cm in length, 24cm in width, and almost 27cm in height, it has played an outsize role in centuries of royal tradition.
Removed by King Edward I of England in 1296, it was brought back to Scotland by a gang of four Scottish nationalists in a daring Christmas Day raid in 1950, returned to Westminster Abbey months later, and then in 1996 sent back north of the border to Edinburgh.
Charles will be the latest royal to be crowned on the stone. Before it was looted in the Wars of Independence it was used in the coronation of Scottish kings for hundreds of years.
Iconic status
Professor Ewen Cameron, Sir William Fraser professor of Scottish history at the University of Edinburgh, said of its initial removal: "Edward was making a statement about the status of Scotland. One chronicler stated that its removal to London was 'in recognition of a kingdom surrendered and conquered'."
He told {[stationName}} News: "Very often it's seen as a symbol of Scottishness, it's important to a certain win of Scottish nationalism, but it also seems to be very important to those organising the coronation."
With the stone's origins being a subject of debate, beyond its weight, dimensions and the type of rock which was likely quarried near Scone, much is unclear.
A thousand years of history
The Stone of Destiny first entered recorded history in 1057 when Macbeth's stepson Lulach was proclaimed King at Scone, and the stone is rumoured to have been used in this way since the fourth century.
But since the 14th century it has been used by English monarchs, and then British ones when James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603.
The last time it featured in a ceremony was for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, but there was a chance history would have told a different story.
READ MORE: Should the Stone of Scone live in Perth?
Christmas Eve raid
Three years earlier Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart took part in the daring raid at Westminster Abbey to retrieve it.
Driving from Glasgow, where they went to university, to the UK capital they embarked on one of the most audacious heists of British history on Christmas Day intent on making a point about Scottish nationalism.
When it was discovered it was missing it caused an international sensation, the border between Scotland and England was closed for the first time in 400 years and a team of detectives from Scotland Yard were sent north to investigate.
It was later found on the site of the High Altar at Arbroath Abbey where, in 1320, Scottish nationhood was declared in the Declaration of Arbroath.
On April 11 1951 it was taken back to London and returned to Westminster Abbey, placed back in the Coronation Chair.
Prof Cameron said: "The students were not prosecuted to avoid giving publicity to the Scottish nationalist movement.
"The stone was returned to Westminster Abbey - its 'traditional place', according to the prime minister, Churchill in 1952 - in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and much to her delight.
"The stone had been an obscure item for most of the period that it was in London. Scottish nationalists saw that as a slight on Scotland and sought to bring it to public attention.
"The events of 1950 also established that the stone was the property of the monarch."
Homecoming
It would remain in Westminster for the next 46 years until 1996 when, towards the end of John Major's time in Number 10, he said it would be returned.
On July 3 that year the Conservative politician told the House of Commons: "The Stone of Destiny holds a special place in the hearts of Scots. On this, the 700th anniversary of its removal from Scotland, it is appropriate to return it to its historic homeland."
On St Andrew's Day the centuries-old stone returned, and was brought to Edinburgh where it was put on display in Edinburgh Castle.
King Charles' life in pictures
King Charles is born (1948)
Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor was born to then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on November 14th, 1948, as the couple's first child.
King Charles in 1952
When his grandfather George VI died and his mother ascended to the throne in 1952, Charles became the future heir of the monarchy at the age of four.
He also became the Duke of Cornwall. When he was 21, in 1969, he became entitled to the full income of the Duchy and took over its management.
Charles' childhood
Growing up, Charles went to a boarding school for his education, studying at Gordonstoun private school in the north-east of Scotland.
Charles' experience at the school helped to shape him, saying in an interview that he was glad to have attended.
King Charles at university
After finishing his A-Levels, Charles broke with royal tradition and went straight to university, where he obtained a 2:2 in a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge in 1970. This made Charles the first British heir to attain a university degree.
Investiture of the Prince of Wales
In 1969, the Investiture of the Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle, where Charles was crowned by the Queen as the Prince of Wales.
King Charles in the Navy
King Charles served in the Navy between 1971 to 1976. He trained as a Royal Air Force pilot and served on the frigate HMS Jupiter as part of its Pacific voyage.
King Charles and Diana (1981)
In 1981, Prince Charles married Diana Spencer in the most-watched television event at the time. Over 1 billion people looked on as the Prince and Princess of Wales made their wedding vows.
The marriage birthed Charles' only children - William and Harry, but would end in tragedy as the couple would divorce in 1992. Princess Diana would later die in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Prince William's first day at Eton College
The King and Princess of Wales and brother Prince Harry join Prince William for his first day at Eton College in September 1995.
Assassination attempt
Following his divorce from Diana, Charles continued to carry out royal duties. Whilst on a tour of Australia in 1994, King Charles was shot at twice by student David Kang.
David Kang was protesting about the treatment of Cambodian asylum seekers in Australia. Charles was not hurt and managed to dodge the bullet.
King Charles and Camilla
King Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, 13 years after his divorce from Diana. Because this was Charles' second marriage, he was unable to get married in a church and instead held a civil wedding. Charles' parents did not attend the ceremony, due to the Queen's role as head of the Church of England. Following their marriage, Camilla would go on to receive the title of 'Duchess of Cornwall'.
Media presence
Prince Charles has kept his life relatively private following his marriage to Camilla. The Prince rarely spoke to newspapers and occasionally appeared on television, in order to maintain his privacy.
However, Charles has tried his hand at a number of positions, including presenting the weather for BBC Scotland while on a trip to Glasgow in 2012.
Charity work
Over 40 years Prince Charles has set up 20 charities, he has been a keen supporter of charity work, setting up the Prince's Trust in 1976 to help vulnerable people get their life back on track.
Since then, Charles has been a vocal supporter of human rights, calling for more action against abuse worldwide. Most recently, the Prince commissioned a series of portraits of seven Holocaust survivors in early 2022.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort
Following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles immediately became King Charles III on 8th September.
In the days following his mother's death, he met members of the public with his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort.
On 10th September, an historic meeting at St James' Palace confirmed his role of King.
King Charles III delivers his first address to parliament
King Charles said he felt "the weight of history" as he addressed parliament for the first time as King, adding he vowed to follow the example set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.