The fabled Stone of Destiny left Edinburgh Castle for the first time since 1996 and arrived in London for the enthronement of King Charles III.
The Scone sandstone relic was transported from the Crown Room under tight security and will be placed beneath the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey for the May 6 ceremony.
In preparation for its temporary departure, a ceremonial procession took place from the castle’s Great Hall on Friday, led by the Lord Lyon King of Arms - the monarch’s representative in Scotland.
First Minister Humza Yousaf was in attendance in his capacity as the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), who care for the stone, worked with Police Scotland to ensure it could be transported safely and securely.
It was to be transported in a special carrier constructed largely from Scottish oak, which has been made by HES’s in-house joinery team. It arrived in London on Saturday.
The Stone of Destiny, described as being coarse-grained, pinkish buff sandstone, is seen as a historic symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, and was used in the inauguration of Scottish kings at Scone for centuries.
A geological survey of the stone carried out when it was returned to Scotland in 1996 showed the sandstone used to make the artefact had likely been quarried from the vicinity of Scone.
It was taken from Scone Abbey over 700 years ago, in 1296 during the Wars of Independence, by then King of England, Edward I, where it was then built into a new throne at Westminster Abbey.
The carved oak coronation chair has been used during the inauguration of 26 kings and queens at Westminster Abbey ever since.
The stone stayed in England for hundreds of years, until Christmas Day in 1950 four students from Glasgow famously stole the stone.
It was found some three months later at the high altar of Arbroath Abbey - around 500 miles away.
The last remaining member of that dauntless raid, Ian Hamilton, died just last year at the age of 97.
His son Jamie said his father would not want the stone to go to London for the crowning and that Scotland would be a more appropriate setting.
When the late Queen Elizabeth II was crowned just three years after it was recovered, her throne also sat above the stone.
It was only returned to Scotland on St Andrew’s Day in November 1996 but it was agreed it would return to England for any future coronation.
The stone will return to Edinburgh Castle in the weeks following the enthronement, before it becomes the centrepiece of the new £26.5 million museum at Perth City Hall in spring 2024.
HES manages historic locations across Scotland, including Edinburgh Castle, where the stone is among the items on display in the Crown Room.
Kathy Richmond, head of collections and applied conservation, said it was a great responsibility to ensure the safe voyage.
