Guest Author - Susan Keeping

The film Stone of Destiny tells the story of 4 Glasgow University students who stole the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1950. The film was written by Ian Hamilton and the film's director Charlie Martin Smith. It stars Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Billy Boyde and Robert Carlyle among others. It is based on a true story. I thought I would give a little of the background on the Stone of Scone.

There is some debate over where the Stone of Scone originally came from. Some believe that it is Jacob's Pillar-Stone from ancient Israel (the stone that Jacob rested his head on the night he dreamt that God came to him), it is unexplained how it eventually ended up in Scotland; others believe the Stone came from Ireland. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Stone is a rectangular block of pale yellow sandstone that is consistent with similar sandstone found in Scotland. The Stone is 26 x 16 x 11 inches and weighs 336 pounds. A Latin cross is carved on it. Legend says that once upon a time a piece of metal featuring a prophecy was attached to the Stone. Sir Walter Scott translated this prophecy: "unless the fates be faulty grown and prophet's voice be vain, where'er is found this sacred stone the Scottish race shall reign."

The stone sat at Scone Palace in Perthshire, all Scottish kings were crowned using the Stone. In 1292, John Balliol was the last Scottish king crowned using the Stone. After Balliol abdicated the Scottish throne, the Stone was removed from Scone by King Edward I to prevent any further Scottish kings from being crowned. The Stone was removed to Westminster Abbey. A chair was built to hold it and every single English sovereign has been crowned using the stone since. Regardless, when Robert the Bruce became king of Scotland in 1306 he was crowned at Scone.

The Stone has always been an instrumental symbol of Scottish independence, it is also known as the Stone of Destiny. In 1950, a group of students stole the Stone from Westminster Abbey and deposited it at Arbroath Abbey. It was returned to Westminster Abbey four months later. On St. Andrews Day (November 30), 1996 the Stone of Scone was officially returned to Scotland and now resides in Edinburgh Castle. It will be returned to London for any future coronations.