{"id":5705,"date":"2022-10-08T14:56:50","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T13:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weegiefifer.scot\/?p=5705"},"modified":"2022-10-08T14:58:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-08T13:58:26","slug":"ian-hamilton-kc-liberator-of-the-stone-of-destiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weegiefifer.scot\/?p=5705","title":{"rendered":"Ian Hamilton KC, Liberator of the Stone of Destiny"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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This week saw the death of Ian Hamilton KC. Ian was one of the four students who, seventy years ago, \u2018stole\u2019 the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey and brought it back to Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Stone of Destiny<\/a> is an ancient symbol of Scotland\u2019s monarchy. And for centuries it was used at Scone Abbey in the inauguration of our kings. Then in 1296, King Edward I of England seized the stone and took it down to London. From then on, it became part of the coronation ceremony of the monarchs of England and then Great Britain. It was built into the throne at Westminster Abbey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Christmas Day 1950, four Scottish students removed the stone<\/a> from Westminster Abbey in London. Three months later it turned up 500 miles away \u2013 at the high altar of Arbroath Abbey. There is a very good piece by Gerry Hassan about 1950s Scotland and the recovery of the Stone.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did they give back the real stone?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago Ian gave an interview about that long-standing question \u201cIs it the real stone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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