The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Stone of Scone returns home in back of van
The Stone of Destiny has returned to its historical home of Perthshire ahead of the opening of the new museum.
A special farewell ceremony was held at Edinburgh Castle on Thursday to mark the departure of the stone – also known as the Stone of Scone.
First Minister Humza Yousaf attended the ceremony as part of his role in the Safeguarding of the Regalia.
The sandstone slab is set to be the centrepiece of the new Perth Museum, due to open on March 30.
It has played a role in royal coronations on both sides of the border for hundreds of years.
However, locals expressed their disappointment at the lack of publicity surrounding the arrival of the stone in Perth.
The slab was transported and delivered to the museum in the back of a white van.
On the Perthshire Local Facebook page, one resident called the arrival “embarrassing”.
They said: “What an embarrassing entry. A totally lost opportunity to garner support and highlight the new museum.
“This should have, as a minimum, been a webcast journey and followed a specific route and done at a weekend in a vehicle where you could visibly securely/ safely see the stone.”
Another person said: “You would have thought that such an iconic piece of history would have been delivered to its new home with some sort of ceremony.”
Iain Fenwick, director of Perthshire Local and entrepreneur, said he had been assured the lack of advertising was a “deliberate tactic”.
“Personally, I think the arrival kind of mirrors everything else surrounding it,” he said.
“No signs, no billboards, no flags, no bollards and not one single mention of the Stone of Destiny on the Perth Museum Facebook page yet in 2024.
“You would have thought having spent £26.73 million, there would have been more pomp and ceremony.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Arrangements remain on track for display of the Stone of Destiny in the new Perth Museum, which opens to the public on March 30.”
A packed opening weekend has been planned for the museum, with music, poetry and walking tours arranged.