SCOTLAND: STONE OF SCONE IS RETURNED AFTER 700 YEARS IN UK
English/Nat
A
symbol of
Scotland's ancient nationhood, the
Stone of Destiny, has been returned to
Scotland 700 years after
England took it south as a spoil of war.
The sandstone slab was handed over by the
Duke of York amid ceremonial fanfare at
Edinburgh Castle on Saturday -
Saint Andrew's Day, the
Patron Saint of Scotland.
The Stone of Destiny, or the
Stone of Scone, is the ancient coronation stone of Scotland's kings.
The Stone of Destiny emerged from
Edinburgh's
Palace of Holyrood House in a spectacular procession for Saturday's formal handover in Edinburgh Castle by the
Duke of York.
The proud symbol of Scotland's ancient nationhood passed along the
Royal Mile watched by thousands in a procession led by a
Royal Marines band and mounted
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
The procession was led by limousines carrying Scotland's Commissioners of the
Regalia and magnificently clad officers of state.
The stone was carried on the back of a specially-adapted open-topped army
Landrover, protected from the elements by a perspex screen.
In a limousine behind was the
Queen's representative
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, in navy uniform.
A following car carried
Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth, whose idea it was to return the stone to Scotland.
The stone is being returned to Scotland after it was taken south in 1296 by
England's King Edward, "
Hammer of the Scots".
And most people who watched the historic event were pleased to see the stone back at home.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, it's just a part of history coming back to Scotland where it belongs. So it's exciting for us as
Americans to be part of that."
SUPER CAPTION:
Anne Magee,
Scottish American tourist
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"
The Stone of destiny has nothing to do with parliament. The Stone of Destiny is to do with our heritage. As far as the history of Scotland is concerned, the Stone of Destiny goes way back further than even the kings of Scotland."
SUPER CAPTION:
Tom Wells,
Scotsman
SOUNDBITE: (
English)
"We've been waiting for 700 years for the stone to come back, and it's the symbol of our sovereignty, as a nation, and I look forward to the sovereignty coming back in reality when we have our own parliament."
SUPER CAPTION:
Andrew Hume, Scotsman
Members of Scotland's ancient
Wallace clan were also in favour of the stone coming home.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Q: What do you think of the return of the stone? Do you think that's a good thing?
If it's looked upon as a step in the direction of recognising us as an independent culture, yeh."
SUPER CAPTION:
Charlie Alland, Wallace clansman
The Saltire flag of Scotland flew proudly over Edinburgh Castle as the ancient coronation stone of Scotland's kings was borne through the capital.
Inside Edinburgh Castle, the Duke of York officially handed the stone over to the Scottish Secretary.
UPSOUND: I now therefore, on behalf of her majesty the
Queen, place the
Stone of Scone in the care of you, the commissioners for the keeping of the regalia of Scotland.
The Duke of York then presented the Scottish Secretary with the warrant for the
Stone of Scone.
The secretary said the stone would be taken back to
Westminster Abbey in
London whenever there was a coronation.
UPSOUND: "The continuation of this tradition is an essential element of the return to Scotland of the stone, and as her majesty's warrant states, it is our duty to make appropriate arrangements to ensure that in all future coronations in Westminster Abbey, successors of her majesty as sovereigns of the
United Kingdom shall be crowned seated upon the Stone of Destiny."
The ceremony was followed by a
21-gun salute from the castle.
You can license this story through AP
Archive:
http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3741639b2a2be154fc9e694c73430dd2
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork