Scotland may not send the ‘Stone of Destiny’ to England for the coronation

On 6 May 2023, Charles III will be crowned king of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at Westminster Abbey.

The crowning of a British monarch is rich in history and tradition, from Westminster Abbey, the site of royal coronations since 1066, to the Coronation Chair of England and its Stone of Scone or Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish sovereignty.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Built by King Edward I (Edward the Confessor) in 1040, it has been the site of royal coronations since 1066.

The church has been the site of the coronations of 39 English and British monarchs, and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish and British monarchs. Additionally, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, at least 16 royal weddings have occurred at the abbey since 1100.

Many people will remember the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the view of its elegant gothic exterior and magnificent vaulted ceilings. The Abbey also has many graves and memorials of illustrious artists and writers, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Hardy, Rudyard Kipling, Shakespeare, and the Bronte sisters.

The Coronation Chair

In the run-up to the coronation of Britain’s latest king, Charles III, visitors are paying particular attention to the Coronation Chair, the seat on which English monarchs have been crowned since 1308.

The Coronation Chair in St George’s Chapel is one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world. It has been the centerpiece of coronations for over 700 years when it is placed in the center of the Abbey, in front of the High Altar.

The Coronation Chair was made by order of King Edward I to enclose the famous Stone of Scone, which he brought from Scotland to the Abbey in 1296, where he placed it in the care of the Abbot of Westminster.

Underneath the seat, along with a few initials carved by naughty schoolboys from Westminster School, is a wooden platform. This was where the Coronation Stone was to be housed.

The ancient Chair was taken out of the Abbey when Oliver Cromwell was installed upon it as Lord Protector in Westminster Hall. It was used by Queen Victoria at the 1887 Golden Jubilee Services in the Abbey. 

In April 2010 it was moved to a specially-built enclosure within St George’s Chapel at the west end of the Nave for essential conservation work. Conservation and cleaning were under the supervision of the Hamilton Kerr Institute,

The Stone of Scone

One of the most interesting ancient artifacts associated with the coronation and in particular, the Coronation Chair, is the Stone of Scone, sometimes called the Stone of Destiny. In England, it is known as the Coronation Stone.

The heavy block of sandstone is 26 in (66 cm) by 16.7 in (42 cm) by 10.5 in (26.7 cm) and its weight is approximately 335 lb (152 kg). A roughly incised cross is on one surface, and an iron ring at each end aids with transport

Although it has been proven by geologists to be a “lower Old Red Sandstone” quarried in the vicinity of Scone, Scotland, the origins of the stone are shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that Jacob rested his head on the stone while at Bethel.

“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” (Genesis chapter 28, verse 18). 

Jacob’s sons supposedly carried it to Egypt and from thence it passed to Spain with King Gathelus, son of Cecrops, the builder of Athens. About 700 BC it was said to be in Ireland, carried by the Spanish King’s son Simon Brech, on his invasion of the island.

There it was placed on the sacred Hill of Tara near Skryne in County Meath and named the Lia Fail, or “speaking stone,” because it was said to groan aloud if the claimant was of royal blood but remained silent if he was a pretender, writes The BBC.

Whatever the truth of the stone’s origins, it is known that following his victory at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, England’s King Edward I marched north, seized the stone from Scone Abbey, and had it fitted into the base of the specially crafted wooden Coronation Chair on which English – and later British – monarchs have been crowned inside London’s Westminster Abbey ever since.

Scotland doesn’t want the stone going to England

Politicians across Scotland are against the idea of letting their national relic be a part of King Charles’ coronation in May this year, reports RepublicWorld.com.

The stone that Edward took symbolically gave the future English kings dominion over Scotland. Because of this, the present stone’s physical representation of the seat of monarchy has, over the years, made it a target for political activists.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has called for the Stone of Scone, the country’s national relic, to not be sent for the royal event.

Ash Regan, who is one of three challengers vying for the position of first minister, says the ancient artifact should remain in its “rightful place” north of the border, reports Sky News. She does suggest a compromise, though.

“While I appreciate the tradition of using the Stone of Destiny in the Coronation, I believe it should remain in Scotland as an ancient symbol of our national heritage. I suggest a compromise in which the aspects of the Coronation ceremony involving the Stone take place in Scotland so that it can be celebrated in its rightful place, without needing to be removed from the country. This would be a fitting tribute to the stone’s significance in Scottish history, while still honoring the traditions of the United Kingdom of the Crowns,” she said.

It will be interesting to see what will happen with the Stone of Destiny/.