THE son of the man who famously smuggled the Stone of Destiny back to Scotland from Westminster Abbey says his father would not want it to be returned to London for the King’s coronation.
Ian Hamilton, who died last year, broke into the abbey in 1950 and returned the stone to Scotland, alongside fellow nationalists Gavin Vernon, teacher and political activist Kay Matheson, and Alan Stuart.
The stone was used to inaugurate Scottish royalty for centuries, before being removed from the country by King Edward I in 1296.
Hamilton, Vernon, Matheson and Stuart, refused to reveal the location of the Stone for three months after it was reclaimed until it was found at the high altar of Arbroath Abbey.
It was officially returned to Scotland on St Andrew's Day in November 1996, and was installed at Edinburgh Castle where it has remained.
However there are plans for the stone to be moved to Westminster Abbey for the coronation, with a guarantee it will return to Scotland afterwards.
Ian Hamilton’s son Jamie told the BBC: “I think his view would be, it’s ridiculous.”
He added: “If people want to be crowned on it they should come to Scotland and be crowned on it. I think that would be his standpoint.”
Historic Environment Scotland are the custodians of the ancient stone, which is displayed alongside Scotland’s crown jewels.
Head of collections Kathy Richmond told the broadcaster: “We have a royal warrant which says that the stone is to be kept in Scotland and it’s to be transported back to Westminster Abbey for any future coronation.”
Earlier this month former first minister and Alba Party leader Alex Salmond said the stone should not be used in the King’s coronation.
Salmond admitted it was not his “most serious policy” but that the Scottish Government should refuse any request for the stone, due to the refusal to allow a second independence referendum.
