Lost fragments of the Stone of Destiny have helped uncover the secret history of a British relic

For centuries it has accompanied the coronation ceremonies of kings. This 152kg block of sandstone has gone through a series of thefts, journeys and disputes between England and Scotland. But, as researchers have discovered, the relic's story is far more complex: part of the Stone has long been thought lost.

Professor Sally Foster from the University of Stirling has spent several years tracking down fragments of the Stone and reconstructing their fate. Her research, published in The Antiquaries Journal, reveals surprising details ranging from national myths to political intrigue.

The Stone is believed to have been quarried near Perth in Scotland and to have been a symbol of the coronation power of Scottish rulers in the 13th century. However, in 1296, it was taken to England by King Edward I and placed in Westminster Abbey as a symbol of Scottish subjugation.

Centuries later, on Christmas morning 1950, Scottish National Party activists led by Ian Hamilton stole the Stone from the Abbey to return it to its homeland. During transport, the relic cracked and had to be reconstructed.

The Scottish sculptor and politician Robert (Bertie) Gray, a staunch nationalist and co-founder of the Scottish National Party, played an important role in these events. It was he who created a replica of the Stone back in the 1930s and dreamed of replacing the original with a substitute. After the theft, he was involved in its repair - and, as it turned out, kept some of the chipped pieces as "souvenirs".

The Scotsman newspaper wrote in 1956 that 34 fragments had broken away from the Stone. Foster was able to determine the fate of 17 of them. Some were turned into jewellery - for example, Ian Hamilton's lover wore a brooch with a piece of the Stone, and Scottish politician Winnie Ewing owned a pendant with a fragment, joking that she "would like to be arrested for possession of stolen property".

Other pieces were used for scientific experiments, and one even ended up in Australia - Gray gave it to a woman visiting Scotland. After her death in 1967, the fragment was donated to the Queensland Museum along with a letter and the master's business card.

According to Foster, these findings give the Scone Stone new significance. Its "shattering" history has generated many personal stories of national memory and cultural identity. Today, parts of the relic are held in museums and private collections, and the Stone itself is on display at the Perth City Museum.

However, 17 fragments are still missing. The scientist hopes that her publication and public interest will help discover new traces of this unique relic.

"Each piece found opens a new chapter in the life of the Stone of Destiny. It connects personal, political and historical dimensions - and reminds us how the past continues to live on in the present," Foster notes.