Posted by Maris on 27th Feb 2024
Crown Jewels of Scotland & The Stone of Destiny
Becoming a king or queen is a grand, expensive event with many elaborate customs. Scottish regalia was no exception, with monarchs wielding magnificent swords and sceptres and donning crowns covered in jewels.
Honours of Scotland
Throughout history, Scottish, English, and British rulers have been crowned with both the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland. Even though they are hundreds of years old, they have been well-maintained, and Edinburgh Castle still has them on exhibit today (see picture).
Honours of Scotland
The crown jewels of Scotland are these.
It's the collective name for a sceptre, an ornate sword, and a crown covered with jewels.
They belong to the fifteenth and sixteenth century.
These are the British Isles' earliest regalia, or royal symbols.
History
In Stirling Castle in 1543, they were initially used in tandem to crown the young Mary Queen of Scots.
The coronations of James VI in 1567, Charles I in 1633, and Charles II for the final time in 1651 also saw their usage.
Midway through the 17th century, they were concealed to protect them from Oliver Cromwell.
Prior to the monarchy being restored in 1660, they were first hidden at Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire. After that, they were smuggled out during a siege and interred for nine years a few miles away in Kinneff Parish Church.
Afterwards, they served as the monarch's representative during sessions of the first Scottish Parliament.
Like in a fairy tale, they were hidden away in a box in Edinburgh Castle and forgotten about for more than a century after the Treaty of Union in 1707 declared them unnecessary.
They weren't discovered until 1818, when Sir Walter Scott's pressure prompted a search for them inside the castle.
Fearing a Nazi attack, they were concealed once more during World War II.
They have been hidden away three times in total.
The Destiny Stone
The precise origin of the Stone of Destiny is unknown.
There are theories regarding the stone's Scottish manufacture or biblical roots.
Its appearance is actually rather nondescript and basic, in contrast to its colorful history.
It was used at Scone, Dunadd, and Iona to throne Scottish rulers.
In addition to the Honours of Scotland, it is presently on exhibit in Edinburgh Castle. A duplicate stone is also visible in the Perthshire gardens of Scone Palace (see picture).
It relocates to its new location at the renovated Perth Museum in March 2024.
History
The last king to utilize the Stone of Destiny was John Balliol in 1292.
Edward I of England took possession of it in 1296 and transported it to Westminster Abbey in London.
For seven centuries, it was placed beneath the coronation chair, which is occupied by English and British sovereigns during their coronation.
Four Scottish nationalist students took the stone out of Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950 and returned it to Scotland. Following a public uproar, it was discovered at Arbroath Abbey a few months later, covered in a saltire, and returned to Westminster Abbey by the authorities.
The last time it was utilized was during HM The Queen's 1953 coronation.
The Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland with much fanfare on St Andrews Day (30 November 1996) and placed in Edinburgh Castle with the Scottish Honours. A procession of nobles and soldiers escorted the stone from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, located at the foot of the mile, to the castle, drawing a crowd of about 10,000 spectators along Edinburgh's Royal Mile.