The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is to be a carefully executed event, with preparations well underway for the historic occasion on May 6 at Westminster Abbey.
Plans for the Coronation have generally remained unchanged for many centuries, with the finer details of King Charles’s ceremony being confirmed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8 2022.
However, there are a few operational events that remain a closely guarded secret.
One detail that is being kept classified is the details of the transportation of the Stone of Scone from Scotland to England.
At some point over the next few weeks, the Stone of Destiny will leave Edinbrugh for London for the first time since 1996.
The sacred Stone of Scone is an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy. It has been used for many centuries at the coronations of kings and queens.
King Edward I seized the stone from the Scots in 1296, with the sacred object being used at every coronation since, including Elizabeth II’s in 1953.
However, there is political controversy brewing, with many Scots saying the stone should remain north of the border in its rightful place.
In 1996, Prime Minister John Major announced that the stone would permanently return to Scotland, with a provision that it should temporarily be at Westminster Abbey for the purpose of coronations.
Ahead of the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Stone of Scone will be removed from Edinburgh Castle and will be transported to Westminster Abbey.
However, details surrounding this process remain a closely guarded secret for security reasons.
The dates of the removal, the method of transportation and the route taken will not be publicised.
This is to protect the Stone of Destiny – one of the most important historical artefacts in the British Isles.
