The Stone of Destiny departs Edinburgh Castle

The Grand Master Mason, Brother Dr Joseph J Morrow, in his role as the Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, attended a ‘farewell’ ceremony on Thursday to mark the Stone of Destiny’s departure from Edinburgh Castle to a new home.

The historic artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, is going to Perth Museum where it will be at the centre of a £27 million redevelopment.

The ancient sandstone block was used for centuries in the Coronation of monarchs.

Brother Morrow, the head of state ceremony in Scotland, presided over proceedings in the Great Hall, where the stone sat on a plinth, before the People’s Procession was led down the Castle Esplanade by a piper and military band.

Over the centuries there have been several conspiracy theories about the stone’s origin and provenance.

Brother Morrow addressed them when he said that some aspects of Scottish history were best left “a wee bit mysterious”.

He added, “We live in a world where theories are actually rife all over the place, and I just think we need to enjoy this symbol of our nationhood.

“What we do know is that the sandstone it’s made of is actually similar, in geological terms, to that around about Scone and Angus.”

He said the stone is a national symbol and doesn’t belong to any one city of Scotland, adding, “I’m from Dundee so I would support it going to Dundee.”

The 152kg slab of pinkish sandstone will return to Perth for the first time in 700 years.

It was associated with royal inaugurations at nearby Scone, before it was taken to Westminster Abbey in London as war loot by King Edward I in 1296.

The Stone was subsequently used in the coronation of English and British monarchs for over 500 years.

In 1996, it was returned to Scotland, and was kept in Edinburgh Castle. It remains the Crown’s property and is transported to London for use at coronations.

On 3 July 1996, in response to a growing discussion around Scottish cultural history, the British Government announced that the stone would return to Scotland.

In December 2020, the Scottish Government announced the stone would be relocated to Perth City Hall.

First Minister Humza Yousaf was also in attendance along with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Major General Alastair Bruce, the governor of Edinburgh Castle.