The Stone of Destiny has left Edinburgh Castle for the first time in more than 25 years as it heads to London for the coronation of King Charles III.
The stone, an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, was seized by King Edward I of England in the late 13th Century and taken to Westminster Abbey.
It remained in England for 700 years and formed part of the coronation chair on which kings and queens were crowned.
The stone was returned for permanent display in Scotland in 1996.
But it was agreed it would return to Westminster Abbey for any future coronation ceremony.
There will be a free live screening of the coronation in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens on 6 May.
The 150kg (336lb) red sandstone slab, also known as the Stone of Scone, is 66cm (26in) long, 42cm (17in) wide, and 27cm (10.5in) high.
It was used for the coronation of Scots kings for hundreds of years before being taken by Edward I of England in 1296, during the Wars of Independence.
He made the stone part of a carved oak coronation chair which has been used during the inauguration of 26 Kings and queens at Westminster Abbey since.
The stone stayed in England for hundreds of years, until Christmas Day in 1950 when four students from Glasgow broke into Westminster Abbey and took it back to Scotland. (BBC)
