This very symbolic journey began at Edinburgh Castle: this enormous stone, a symbol of Scottish nationalism, is essential to the coronation of British monarchs.
The journey of the “Stone of Destiny” (it almost feels like The Lord of the Rings or in Highlander) began this Thursday, April 27 in the evening at Edinburgh Castle to the sound of bagpipes of course. In the presence of the guards in ceremonial dress, whose footsteps can be heard on the ground, and of the new Scottish Prime Minister Humza Youssaf, this enormous stone of 150 kilos, was slowly lifted by six porters and taken out of the castle. By special convoy and under high security, it will cross Great Britain from North to South, to London.
At first sight, this large rectangular block of sandstone, pierced with a few holes, is nothing special. But it is an essential component of coronations among our neighbors. The “Stone of Destiny”, called Lia Fail in Gaelic, must imperatively be reinstalled under King Edward’s very old chair: this two-metre-high wooden oak throne dates from 1300 and has been the seat of coronations ever since. . If you watch the ceremony on Saturday May 6, you won’t be able to miss it…
A fantastic story
This “Stone of Destiny” has an incredible history and is a symbol of Scottish nationalism. There are several legends about its history. One wants it to have come from Egypt after crossing Greece and Sicily. But it more likely arrived from Ireland in the 9th century. It is then used for the coronation of Scottish kings. Before being brought back to London in 1296 by the King of England, as war booty. The Scots never digested it. In 1950, four Scottish students stole the big stone in Westminster Abbey, in the middle of Christmas night, under the nose and beard of the police. The “Stone of Destiny” is found a few weeks later in Scotland and brought back to London again.
Eventually, in 1996, Queen Elizabeth and then British Prime Minister John Major agreed to have the stone returned to Scotland permanently. But on one condition: that she return to London for any coronation. And so it’s obviously the first time since… Some Scots also take a dim view of it.
The first coronation in 70 years
This coronation is therefore fast approaching: it will be Saturday, May 6, the first coronation of a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II 70 years ago. The ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m., noon in Paris, after a first procession between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Once King Charles III is crowned on the wooden throne and the Stone of Destiny (you have followed correctly), it will be back to Buckingham via Trafalgar Square, with Queen Consort Camilla, on the old historic Gold State Coach. Then there will be the traditional family photo on the Buckingham balcony. There will probably only be one absent in the photo, it is Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry. Not surprising given the state of relations with the royal family. And the next day, the festivities will end in Windsor. The “stone of destiny” will then be able to return to Edinburgh, to the great relief of the Scots, who have a famous song in homage to the stone, Oran Na Cloiche.