Latest news with #StoneofScone
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Confrontations with the Stone of Destiny
When I was a child, I was an avid collector — of stamps, coins, stickers, shells, and precious gemstones. I loved collecting gemstones in particular, scouring car boot sales for gleaming tiger's eyes and slices of agate, visiting incense-scented hippie shops on holiday to purchase polished turquoise nuggets, and pocketing smooth quartz pebbles pulled from rivers. I loved how the stones glinted in the sunlight, how they glowed when wet, how the colours complemented each other when nestled together in my sweaty palm. Recently I was reminded of another stone — one far less glitzy and glamorous — that is nevertheless very important to Scotland, and indeed the United Kingdom as a whole. This stone came to my attention because a silly kilt-wearing Australian tried to smash through a glass case to get to it. What he intended on doing with it is anyone's guess. I am, of course, talking about the Stone of Scone (Gaelic: An Lia Fail). When I first heard about this stone, I imagined it as a giant fluffy scone, perhaps drenched in butter or topped with jam and cream. The reality is a little less exciting, although the Stone is scone-coloured. The Stone of Scone is a rather dull, rough-hewn block of red sandstone. It measures 66cm × 42cm × 27cm, and at 152kg, it's rather heavy. There's a cross incised on one side and an iron ring at each end to aid with transport. All in all, the Stone is weathered, cracked, and unremarkable. And yet this simple slab has played an important role in the coronations of countless kings and queens. According to legend, the Stone once bore a piece of metal inscribed with a prophecy later rendered by Sir Walter Scott — a key architect of modern Scottish identity himself — as "Unless the fates be faulty grown / And prophet's voice be vain / Where'er is found this sacred stone / The Scottish race shall reign." I suspect Scott was just being fanciful; he did have a love of romantic nationalism and a certain flair for myth-making after all. As with most famous old relics, the origins of the Stone are highly contested. According to one legend, the Stone was originally Jacob's pillow — the very stone upon which he dreamed of a ladder to heaven — which was then hauled from the Holy Land through Egypt, Sicily, and Spain to Ireland, and finally on to Scotland. I don't really buy this though; with the dimensions the Stone has, Jacob would surely have woken with a crook neck. Another myth holds that it came from the Irish Hill of Tara, where ancient High Kings were crowned. These myths weren't merely fanciful however; they created a divine genealogy for Scottish monarchy, enabling the Stone's owner to claim heirship to a sacred and ancient tradition. The first definite historical mention of the Stone itself is hard to pin down, but tradition associates it with the ninth century coronation of Kenneth MacAlpin, the first King of Scots. It was housed at Scone Abbey (sadly not a towering cathedral of pastry and butter, although to be fair, this would have rendered it even more likely to be sacked), near Perth, and used in the enthronement of Scottish monarchs. The Stone became a conduit for kingship; to rule Scotland, one's bum had to come into contact with the holy rock. In 1296, Edward I of England invaded Scotland and nicked the Stone of Scone, stealing it down to London where he had a special throne (the Coronation Chair) built so that the stone fit under it. In doing so, he effectively subjugated this powerful Scottish symbol into English royal pageantry; Scotland's sovereignty was (quite literally) under English rule. By sitting over the Stone, English monarchs laid claim to the Scottish crown as well as their own. The ascension of King James VI of Scotland, aka James I of England, to the throne ostensibly fulfilled the ancient prophecy later popularised by Scott however; patriotic Scots liked to point out that a Scotsman indeed ruled where the Stone of Scone was. The Stone has had a long history of being attacked and stolen. On June 11, 1914, for example, suffragettes from the Women's Social and Political Union planted a bomb loaded with metal bolts and nuts next to the Coronation Chair. The subsequent explosion thankfully did not injure anyone, but it did blow off a corner of the Coronation Chair and may have cracked the Stone down the middle (although this was not discovered until decades later). In World War 2, there was great anxiety about the Coronation Chair being potentially damaged or destroyed by German air raids. The chair therefore was moved to Gloucester Cathedral for the duration of the war, while the Stone was hidden within Westminster Abbey behind ancient lead coffins. Only a handful of people knew its location. To safeguard this secret, Charles Peers, the abbey's Surveyor of the Fabric, drew three maps: two were sealed and sent to Canada — one to Prime Minister William King in Ottawa, the other to Ontario's Lieutenant Governor in Toronto — before Peers destroyed the third once he confirmed their receipt. The Germans, of course, never invaded Britain; the Stone was safe. But in the 1950s it fell into a rather different set of hands. On Christmas Day 1950, a group of Scottish students — Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson, and Alan Stuart — surreptitiously snuck the Stone out of Westminster Abbey, intending to return it to its true home — Scotland. Using a mackintosh coat to drag it over the tiled floor, Hamilton and co deposited it in the boot of a car waiting outside, whereupon they discovered the Stone had broken into two pieces (thanks, suffragettes). After burying the bigger portion in a Kent field, where they camped for a few days, the students dug it back up and returned to Scotland, along with a new accomplice, John Josselyn. At some point, this piece was briefly hidden at the home of a US consulate staff member in Glasgow. The smaller chunk was brought up north at a later time. The two pieces were then passed on to nationalist politician Robert Gray, who arranged for a Glasgow stonemason to repair it. Naturally, the British government were desperate to find the Stone, but were unsuccessful in their search efforts. On April 11 1951, the Stone was finally discovered — carefully wrapped in a Saltire on the altar of Arbroath Abbey. This location was meaningful; the abbey was the site of the signing of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, a famous assertion of Scottish independence addressed to the Pope. The Stone was promptly transported back to Westminster Abbey, where it lay until on November 30 1996, when it was returned to Scotland to reside at Edinburgh Castle alongside the Scottish Crown Jewels. The Stone of Destiny reached its final home (kilt-wearing Aussies be damned) on March 30 2024, when it was moved to Perth Museum. I first saw the Stone of Scone when I arrived in Edinburgh for the first time in September 2014. I was, I must admit, more enamoured by the sparkling royal jewellery. The Stone of Destiny remains the property of the Crown and is transported to London for use at coronations. In a sense this arrangement — part compromise, part custody battle — reflects the ongoing tension between tradition and modern national identity, and between "Scottishness" and "Britishness". There's something faintly absurd about investing so much meaning in a slab of sandstone. But then again, so much of our politics, culture, and nationhood is absurd — both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. There's the powdered wigs some barristers wear, and the fact Scotland's national animal is a unicorn. There are the giant vegetables and animals so beloved of little Kiwi towns like Taihape (Big Gumboot) and Ohakune (Big Carrot), and the annual cheese-rolling race in Gloucestershire, where dozens of people hurl themselves down a near-vertical hill, chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. All considered, a lump of sandstone feels no more improbable than the other odd emblems we choose to carry our deepest loyalties, and perhaps that's exactly why it works. — Jean Balchin is an ODT columnist who has started a new life in Edinburgh.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Daily Record
The ancient stone that was used to crown Scottish monarchs for centuries
The Stone of Destiny's origin is wrapped in legend A man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to smash the protective glass case around the Stone of Destiny at Perth Museum, sparking a swift evacuation of the building. Eyewitnesses reported that the man, dressed in a kilt, tried to break into the stone's display around 2pm on Saturday, July 12. Police arrived promptly, and a 35-year-old man was arrested and later charged in connection with the incident. There were no injuries reported, and crucially, the stone itself remained unharmed. A spokesperson for Culture Perth and Kinross told the BBC: 'We can confirm there was an incident at Perth Museum where a man was arrested. Perth Museum was evacuated as a precaution and there was no damage to any artefacts on display. We are assisting Police Scotland with their inquiries.' The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone (pronounced 'skoon'), is one of Scotland's most treasured national symbols, and steeped in myth, history and royal tradition. Weighing 150kg, the ancient sandstone slab has served for centuries as the seat upon which Scottish monarchs were crowned. Originally known by its Celtic name Lia Fáil, meaning 'the speaking stone', the stone was believed to reveal or confirm the rightful king. The stone's origin is wrapped in legend. One ancient tale says it is the very rock used as a pillow by the biblical figure Jacob in the Book of Genesis. That stone, the story goes, travelled from the Middle East to Egypt, then Spain, before arriving in Ireland. From there, it was brought to Scotland by early settlers and used in the crowning of kings. Other theories link it to the Roman Antonine Wall or ancient tribes in Antrim. It was first used in the crowning ceremonies of the kings of Dalriada, the early Gaelic kingdom in the west of Scotland, now known as Argyll. When Kenneth MacAlpin, the 36th King of Dalriada, unified the Scots and Picts around 840 AD, he moved his royal seat to Scone in Perthshire, and brought the stone with him. From then on, all Scottish kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny, which sat atop Moot Hill at Scone Palace. The stone remained in Scotland until 1296, when it was seized by King Edward I during the Wars of Independence and taken to Westminster Abbey. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. There, it was fitted into a specially crafted wooden throne and became an enduring symbol of English rule over Scotland, used in the coronation of English, and later British, monarchs. One of the most famous episodes in its history occurred in 1950, when four students from Glasgow University broke into Westminster Abbey and returned the stone to Scotland. Though eventually recovered and returned to London, the incident reignited calls for the stone's permanent repatriation. That call was finally answered in 1996, when the UK Government returned the stone to Scotland. It was placed in Edinburgh Castle before being transferred in 2023 to its new home at Perth Museum, where it is the star exhibit. It was last used in May 2023 during the coronation of King Charles III, continuing its role in British royal ceremonies more than a thousand years after it was first used in Scotland.
Edinburgh Live
15-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Australian man in court after Stone of Destiny glass 'broken' at Scottish museum
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp A man arrested for allegedly damaging the glass which protects the Stone of Destiny has been remanded in custody. Perth Museum was evacuated amid claims a man in a kilt tried to smash through a display case that houses the stone - which used to be displayed in Edinburgh Castle - on Saturday, July 12, reports the Daily Record. A 35-year-old man was detained by police and taken in to custody. Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, July 14. Logan faced a single charge of malicious mischief - intentionally damaging property - during the private hearing. The 35-year-old, whose address was given on court papers as Sydney, Australia, made no plea to the charge. He was remanded in custody and the case against him was continued for prosecutors to investigate further. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox No future court dates have been set, but he is expected to appear in the dock again next week in connection with the case. Visitors to the attraction said the alleged incident was "like something out of a historical drama or an action film". Museum tours were brought to an end as the building was evacuated and then stormed by police officers. Perth Museum said the historic stone, used in the coronation of Scottish kings for hundreds of years, was not damaged. Police Scotland also confirmed nobody was injured in the incident. Tourist Elle Alvarez, visiting Scotland from the Philippines, posted a video of the incident on Facebook. She said: "It's honestly surreal, like something out of a historical drama or an action film. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish our tour because of the incident. "Huge credit to the staff at Perth Museum for handling the situation with such calm and professionalism, making sure all visitors were safe and looked after." The 150kg object, also known as the Stone of Scone, was taken from Scotland during the Wars of Independence. It was lodged in King Edward's carved-oak coronation throne at Westminster Abbey where it remained for 700 years. Over Christmas in 1950, four Glasgow University students notoriously managed to steal the stone from the Abbey and temporarily return it to Scotland. The stone returned for permanent display in Scotland in 1996 at Edinburgh Castle, before being moved to its current home in Perth last year, 2024. A spokesperson for Culture Perth and Kinross said: "We can confirm there was an incident at Perth Museum where a man was arrested. "Perth Museum was evacuated as a precaution and there was no damage to any artefacts on display. We are assisting Police Scotland with their inquiries."
1News
15-07-2025
- 1News
Kilt-wearing attacker smashes case holding Scotland's Stone of Destiny
A man from Australia has been charged with 'malicious mischief' for allegedly smashing a glass case holding the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish nationhood. Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, 35, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday to face the charge, which is similar to vandalism. Logan, whose address was given as Sydney, wasn't asked to enter a plea and was ordered detained until a hearing next week. Police said that they were called to a 'disturbance' at Perth Museum in central Scotland on Sunday, after reports of a kilt-wearing man attempting to smash the case containing the royal rock. The 150-kilogram sandstone block is also known as the Stone of Scone (Skoon) — and was used in the crowning ceremonies of medieval Scottish monarchs at Scone Abbey, near Perth. It was stolen by England's King Edward I in the 13th century and taken to Westminster Abbey in London, where it was installed under the seat of the coronation chair. ADVERTISEMENT It has been used in coronations at the abbey ever since, first of English and then of British monarchs. The English and Scottish crowns were united under one monarch in the 17th century. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Trump's deadline for Russia, legal action against a supermarket giant, and an unusual marathon record. (Source: Breakfast) The stone's presence in London long irked Scottish nationalists. In 1950, it was stolen from Westminster Abbey by four Glasgow university students, but was returned in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was given back to Scotland in 1996, 700 years after its seizure, and displayed in Edinburgh Castle, with the understanding that it would return to England for use in future coronations. Sensitivities around the stone meant that it had to be moved to London in secrecy and amid tight security for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. Last year it was put on display at the newly renovated Perth Museum where, according to the building's website, there are 'a range of 24/7 security measures in place at the Museum to protect this precious object'. Culture Perth and Kinross, which oversees the museum, said the stone wasn't damaged in the incident.
Scottish Sun
14-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Australian man held in custody in Scotland after being charged with smashing glass containing Stone of Destiny
The artefact has been associated with the Scottish and UK monarchies for centuries MUSEUM 'DISTURBANCE' Australian man held in custody in Scotland after being charged with smashing glass containing Stone of Destiny Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has appeared in court charged with "malicious mischief" following reports that the glass case containing the Stone of Destiny was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A man has been charged after reports that the glass casing protecting the Stone of Destiny was smashed 3 Cops raced to Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon Credit: PA The Stone of Destiny has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a "disturbance" at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered, and he was remanded in custody. The next appearance is due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 as part of a £27 million redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and UK monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. Channel 4 Dispatches discovers organised criminal gangs at the heart of car thefts It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. A Police Scotland spokesperson said earlier: "At around 1.55pm on Saturday 12 July, 2025, Police Scotland received a call regarding a disturbance at Perth Museum. "A 35-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged."
