See Scottish Kings and Queens 

The Stone of Destiny

The block of sandstone known as, “The Stone of Destiny” or also called“ The Stone of Scone” was used by Dalriadic, Scottish, English and British monarchs as an important part of the enthronement ceremony for the last 1000 years. It was placed upon the Moot Hill at Scone Palace and there is a prophecy attached to it:

"Except old seers do feign and wizard wits be blind, the Scots in place must reign where they this stone shall find.."

Today, the stone is still the greatest Scottish icon of all times.

The origins of the Stone were lost. Traditionally, there are many legends about its origin. Perhaps the most accepted explanation is that it was a royal stone brought from Antrim to Argyle and then to Scone by Kenneth Mac Alpin, king of Dalriada.

The Stone was used at Iona and Scone in the coronation ceremony. In 1292 John Balliol became the last Scottish king to use the Stone for his coronation since it was stolen by Edward I of England in 1296 who then, placed it at Westminster Abbey in London.

Some People believed that the Scots had handed Edward the cesspit cover from Scone Palace rather than the original Stone.  On Christmas 1950, 4 nationalist students stole the Stone from Westminster Abbey and deposited it in Arbroath Abbey in Scotland, leaving a simple copy at Westminster; the stolen stone was recovered four months later.

The Stone remained at Westminster Abbey for 700 years, as part of the throne of Edward the Confessor on which all new sovereigns sit during their coronation. The last time the Stone was used, was at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Copyright Monica Loreto

Stone of Destiny

 Scone Palace