The Stone of Destiny

David Cannadine continues examining the origins, symbolism and contemporary significance of the objects and emblems that underpin the British constitution.

In this fifth episode, he’s looking at the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone - an ancient symbol of Scottish monarchy with a complex and contested history intertwined with both Scottish and British identity. The stone's earliest origins are shrouded in myth, but it was certainly used in the inauguration of Scottish kings at Scone Abbey from at least 1249. In 1296, King Edward I of England seized the stone as war booty. It was taken to Westminster Abbey and incorporated into a specially constructed Coronation Chair, which has been used in the coronation ceremonies of English, and later British, monarchs for over 700 years.

On Christmas Day 1950, four Scottish students, who supported an independent Scottish Parliament, removed the stone from Westminster Abbey to draw attention to their nationalist cause. The stone broke in two during the removal and was secretly repaired by stonemason Bertie Gray in Glasgow before being left at Arbroath Abbey and subsequently returned to Westminster. Gray was a keen Scottish nationalist and he kept fragments of the Stone during its repair to give out as relics. The historian Sally Foster has traced the whereabouts of many of these fragments which have travelled far and wide.

In 1996, the Conservative Prime Minister John Major announced the stone's return to Scotland, with the agreement stipulating that the stone must be returned to Westminster Abbey for any future coronation ceremony. The stone was brought to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023. It is now on permanent display at the Perth Museum in Scotland, near its place of origin in Scone. It can rest more easily as a heritage object now Scotland has it's own Parliament, yet David argues it is still a highly charged 'material of state' with a complex and contested history.

Contributors in order of appearance:
Mark Hall, Collections Officer, Perth Museum, Scotland
Dr Fiona Watson, historian
Professor Sally Foster, Professor of Heritage in History at the University of Stirling

Presented by Professor Sir David Cannadine
Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
Series Researcher: Martin Spychal
Sound Mixing: Tony Churnside

The series has been made in association with the History of Parliament Trust

A Zinc Audio production for BBC Radio 4