It will be deposited in the Coronation Chair for the coronation, after which it will be returned to Edinburgh Castle.
The Stone of Destiny has arrived in London in preparation for Saturday’s coronation of the King.
The Stone of Scone has been transported south from Edinburgh Castle.
It will be installed in the Coronation Chair for the coronation, after which it will be returned to Scotland.
For nearly a millennium, it has been used in ceremonies to inaugurate new monarchs.
At a service commemorating its arrival at Westminster Abbey, the Dean of Westminster, Dr. David Hoyle, encouraged people to “pray for their majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, for the Royal Family, and for God’s blessing on all those who are now working so hard on the coronation preparations.”
Lord Lyon of Scotland, Joseph Morrow, described the stone as an “ancient symbol of sovereignty.”
He added that it had been used to “sanctify the inauguration of monarchs since time immemorial and in our recorded history since Malcolm III of Scotland’s accession in 1058.”
He continued, “King Edward I ordered the removal of the stone from the Abbey of Scone to this abbey church in 1296 as an act of hostility.”
“It was returned to Scotland in 1996 by order of the late Queen Elizabeth II as a gesture of goodwill.
“Return to this location at the command of King Charles III as a sign of unity and camaraderie.
“It is committed to your care and safekeeping until its return to Scotland after His Majesty’s coronation.”
The stone had become a “symbol of unity,” according to Scotland’s Chapel Royal dean Professor David Fergusson.
A piece of sandstone that has been beaten up is hardly an object of aesthetic beauty, according to him.
“However, its history necessitates reverence and even demands our celebration today.
“Once a war booty, the Stone of Destiny has become a unifying force. A source of discord, it now returns as an act of camaraderie.
“It will soon be exhibited in Perth, close to its place of origin. And it will once again be at the center of our nation’s history.
Although it is possible to recall past disagreements, we do so in celebration of the trust and harmony that binds us together.
