It is known from historical records that the stone was shipped through Egypt, Sicily, Spain and Ireland before arriving in Scotland in 850AD. After arriving in Scotland it was said that no one could claim the throne of Scotland unless he had been crowned and anointed properly whilst sat on the stone of Destiny.
As the capital of the Kingdom of Scotland was moved it was used in Iona, Dinadd, Dunstaffnage and latterly at Scone. The later town being where it stayed for many years hence its second name as the Stone of Scone (pronounced as Skoon).
All kings of Scotland between Dalriadic were officially crowned right up to 1296 when John Balliol was the King. It was then captured by Edward I of England to be taken to London along with a number of other important emblems of Scottish nationalism. It was later placed in Westminster Abbey for over 700 years underneath the throne on which all English kings would sit when they were being crowned.
At the time of writing the last monarch to be crowned on the stone of destiny was HM Elizabeth II in 1953. Incidentally Scotland has never had any queen known as Elizabeth I so why call her Elizabeth II when she visits Scotland?
There the stone remained for 700 years. However due to very lax security measures four Scottish nationals were able to enter the Abbey on Christmas Day 1950. Despite through searches led by senior officers in the police and special task forces made of Government intelligence agencies they were unable to trace it.
The four nationalists (Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart) kept the Stone of Scone hidden for 16 months before leaving it on the altar of Arbroath Abbey — part of the Church of Scotland.
It was then returned to Westminster Abbey and kept under much tighter security. It remained there until St Andrew’s Day (30 November) 1996 when it was returned north of the Border to be installed in Edinburgh Castle where it remains to this day.
You may have seen the film about the Stone of Destiny and its theft. The film itself was described by one of the people who removed it from Westminster Abbey has being largely accurate but I must admit the found it difficult to believe the main actors were all meant to be young students when they all looked like they were in their mid-thirties.
No doubt if we have a new UK King before independence it will be borrowed and taken south again to London for the official crowning.
You are able to see this remarkable Stone of Destiny in Edinburgh Castle (Note you are not allowed to remove it). Here’s the website http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/index/tour/highlights/highlights-stone-of-destiny.htm
It is arguably the greatest symbol and touchstone of Scottish nationhood and as such, has been a very potent icon for more than a thousand years and will continue to be for many more hundreds of years in the future.
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