Edinburgh.- The “Stone of Scone”, one of the main symbols that will accompany the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, began its journey from Scotland to Westminster Abbey in London.
Edinburgh Castle, in the Scottish capital, organized a ceremony on Thursday night before the departure of this 152-kilo stone, a historical symbol of the Scottish monarchy.
Traveling under tight security, the block will be placed under King Edward’s throne, which has been used for coronations for more than 700 years.
The stone, also known as the “Crownstone” or “Stone of Destiny” was stolen by a group of Scottish students in 1950 and symbolically returned to Scotland in 1996, at the height of independence sentiment.
But the condition was that it could be used for future British coronations.
According to legend, the stone was transported from the Holy Land through Egypt, Sicily, Spain and Ireland, before reaching the Scottish monastery of Scone in the 9th century.
But according to David Breeze, a professor of history and archeology at the University of Edinburgh, it’s very likely that he actually came from the Scottish kingdom of the Picts.
