The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, has played a pivotal role in the coronation of British monarchs for centuries. This oblong block of red sandstone, weighing approximately 335 pounds, has been the centerpiece of royal inaugurations in both Scotland and England. Though steeped in legend and folklore, the stone's historical journey is equally fascinating, with periods of capture, bombings, and theft marking its colorful past.

The Stone of Scone was historically kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey, near Perth, Scotland. It was seized by Edward I's forces during the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 and subsequently used in the coronation of English monarchs. The stone weighs approximately 335 pounds. A roughly incised cross adorns one surface, and iron rings at each end assist with transportation.

Some stories of the stone’s origin involve Fergus, the first King of Scots, who transported the stone from Ireland to Argyll, where he was crowned upon it. Other tales connect the stone to Biblical times, identifying it as Jacob's Pillow Stone, taken from Bethel by Jacob on his way to Haran.

However, geologists have proven that the stone taken by Edward I to Westminster is made of "lower Old Red Sandstone," quarried near Scone. Still, doubts persist about the stone's authenticity, with some suggesting that the real stone was hidden by monks in the River Tay or buried at a fort on Dunsinane Hill during the reign of Macbeth.

In 1296, Edward I of England took the stone as spoils of war, moving it to Westminster Abbey. It was fitted into a wooden chair, the Coronation Chair, upon which most subsequent English and British sovereigns have been crowned. Edward I sought to claim the status of "Lord Paramount" of Scotland, with the right to oversee its King.

Despite the 1328 Treaty of Northampton, which agreed to return the stone to Scotland, rioting crowds prevented its removal from Westminster Abbey. The stone remained in England for six centuries until 1996, when the British Government returned it to Scotland. It was transported to Edinburgh Castle, where it now resides with the Scottish Crown Jewels.

Over the years, the stone has been the target of various attempts to destroy or return it to Scotland. On June 11, 1914, suffragettes of the Women's Social and Political Union planted a bomb next to the Coronation Chair and Stone as part of their bombing and arson campaign. The explosion caused damage to the chair and broke the stone in half, although this was not discovered until 1950.

During World War II, fears of potential destruction or capture by German forces led to the Stone being hidden in a burial vault beneath Westminster Abbey. Maps detailing its location were sent to Canada to ensure the secret would not be lost if those who knew it were killed during the war.

The most notable event occurred on Christmas Day, 1950, when four Scottish students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey. During the process, damage from the previous bombing caused the stone to break into two pieces. After hiding it in a field, the stone was eventually left on the altar of Arbroath Abbey and returned to Westminster four months after its removal.

The stone has remained in Scotland since its 1996 return, awaiting the coronation of the next British monarch.