The stone of scone
The controversy behind the historic symbol
The ancient Stone of Scone had been used for centuries for the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland before it was brought to England by Edward I in 1296. Subsequently used for the coronations of English and later British monarchs, it was last used for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
On Christmas Day 1950, the Stone was removed from its place at Westminster Abbey and returned to Scotland by four Scottish students and nationalists. It was finally brought back to England in 1952 but this was rumoured to be a fake, with the original still in Scotland. In 1996, the decision was made by the British Government to move the Stone to Scotland until the next coronation. It was taken to Edinburgh Castle with its return marking 700 years since it had been removed by the English.