Calls for Stone of Destiny to be returned to Perthshire

Public views are being sought on whether the Stone of Destiny should be housed at a new museum in Perth.

The artefact, which is an ancient symbol of Scotland's monarchy and was used for centuries in the inauguration of kings, is currently held at Edinburgh Castle.

There have been calls for the stone, which was originally kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey, to be returned to Perthshire.

It is proposed the stone would become the centrepiece of a new £23 million museum at the former Perth City Hall, which is expected to open in 2022.

The Scottish Government has now launched an engagement exercise to gauge public opinion on where the stone should be located, with a request by Perth and Kinross Council also being considered by the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia.

Under the terms of their Royal Warrant, it falls to the commissioners to consider and advise upon all matters relating to the stone, although the final decision on any move to relocate it will lie with the Queen, acting on the advice of the commissioners.

Deputy First Minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney said he was delighted a "significant step'' had been taken towards returning the stone to the area.

"The Stone of Destiny is widely regarded to have been quarried from Perthshire stone and was used for the coronation of the Kings of Scotland at Scone for many years,'' he said.

"It is therefore highly appropriate that the stone should return to Perthshire.''

He added: "The arguments for returning the Stone to Perthshire are not just historical but also logistical.

"Perth is within 90 minutes' travel time for over 70% of Scotland's population and is therefore ideally located to capitalise on the desire of both Scots and tourists to visit the stone.

"When the stone was proposed to be moved from Westminster to Edinburgh Castle in 1996, I campaigned for its return to Perthshire.

"I am therefore delighted that a significant step has been taken towards achieving this goal, and I am sure that the entire region will get behind this campaign.''

SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, Pete Wishart, said: "It is welcome news that consideration is now being given to the Stone of Destiny returning to its ancestral home at the heart of Scotland.

"I have long supported and championed the claim that Perthshire is the right location for this critically important historical artefact.

"I will be submitting my own view to the consultation strongly in favour of Perthshire's claim and would encourage those like-minded to do the same.''

King Edward I took the stone from Scotland in 1296 as a spoil of war, and it was not officially returned until 1996.

However, on Christmas Day 1950 four nationalist students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey and smuggled it back to Scotland, sparking a huge manhunt.

It was hidden for months then placed in Arbroath Abbey before returning to London.