Old Town - Edinburgh - page 54

Understand
Stone of Destiny
On St Andrew's Day 1996, with much pomp and ceremony, a block of sandstone 26.5 inches by
16.5 inches by 11 inches in size (67cm by 42cm by 28cm), with rusted iron hoops at either end,
was installed in Edinburgh Castle. For the previous 700 years it had lain beneath the Coronation
Chair in London's Westminster Abbey, where almost every English, and later British, monarch
from Edward II in 1308 to Elizabeth II in 1953 had sat during their coronation ceremonies.
This is the legendary Stone of Destiny, on which Scottish kings placed their feet during their
coronation (not their bums; the English got that bit wrong). It was stolen from Scone Abbey
near Perth by King Edward I of England in 1296 and taken to London where it remained for
seven centuries, an enduring symbol of Scotland's subjugation by England.
It returned to the political limelight in 1996, when the Westminster government arranged for
its return in an attempt to boost the flagging popularity of the Conservative Party in Scotland
prior to a general election. (The stunt failed - Scotland returned no Conservative MPs at the en-
suing election.)
Top Tips
› If you're pushed for time, the top five things to see at Edinburgh Castle are: views from the
Argyle Battery; the One O'Clock Gun; the Great Hall; the Honours of Scotland; and the Prisons
of War exhibition.
› Avoid ticket-office queues by purchasing your tickets online via the Edinburgh Castle website.
› Time your visit to coincide with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun.
› Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.