The other side of the coronation: the claims for British jewels

The Stone of Fate, one of the relics of the kingdom of Scotland used for centuries in their enthronements and stolen in 1296 by the English king Edward I, it will once again be a key element in the coronation ceremony of Charles IIIwhich has caused unrest in Scottish nationalism.

Between the mysticism and the legend with which history is built, the Stone of Destiny (or Stone of Scone) has a place in the coronation of British kings since the fourteenth century, when Edward I of England (1272-1307) invaded the kingdom of Scotland in its expansion.

“By wearing one of the crown’s badges of authority, (Edward) wanted to symbolize his conquest of Scotland, to be able to say: ‘I really have defeated Scotland'”which caused the beginning of the Scottish insurrection (1298-1303) led by William Wallace, explains the historian Ewen Cameron, of the University of Edinburgh.

The stone is a rectangular reddish pink sandstone rock, weighing about 150 kilos and the approximate size of a suitcase, with two large steel rings at its ends of uncertain use, transportation or security, and originally from the town Scone, in the Perth region.

According to historical records, from at least the ninth century “the Scottish monarch was crowned in stone, in a ceremony that took place in Scone Abbey, with noblemen prostrating themselves before the king,” describes Rachel Pickering, cultural adviser for Historical Heritage of Scotland.

“The fact that Edward I stole the stone, along with other royal insignia, underscores the importance and status with which it was perceived,” explains Pickering.

Around 1300, the monarch had a chair built and installed in Westminster Abbey next to the stone, where it stood for more than seven centuries, until in 1996 it was returned by the British Government and the late Elizabeth II, to be exhibited in Edinburgh Castle with a commitment to travel to London for each coronation.

This commitment was described as “historical insult” by former Scottish Head of Government and nationalist leader Alex Salmond, who harshly attacked the current Chief Minister, Humza Yousaf, as a “poodle” for allowing the relic to leave.

According to Salmond, who governed Scotland between 2007 and 2014 and now heads the minority ALBA party, the stone would not have been transferred to London if he had still been prime minister, as he would have ordered the Scottish Police to prevent the operation until the central government authorizes it. a new independence referendum.

Yousaf, also a nationalist, who participated in the farewell ceremony for the stone, defended that it is not his role to tell the Police how to act and that, if it had been, it would not have been the “correct”.

shared symbol

Prior to its final return to Scotland in 1996, the relic had been stolen on Christmas Eve 1950 by four Scottish students.

Iain Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Alan Stuart and Kay Matheson “they broke into the abbey just before it closed, and during the night they moved the 150 kilos of stone, put it on the coat of one of them and dragged it”describes Professor Cameron.

According to police reports, security was rudimentary, and “they were able to get her in the car and bring her over” the historian continues. He appeared at Arbroath Abbey, where in 1320 Scotland signed its declaration of independence. He was eventually returned to Westminster.

“None were prosecuted so as not to make them martyrs”, Cameron explains.

Due to the health of the then King, George VI (1895-1952), the British authorities panicked with his theft, “worried about the possibility of a coronation without the stone”, finally used in 1953 for the ceremony of his daughter, Isabel II, contextualizes the historian.

“It has an important religious and emotional significance (…), when it returned to Scotland in 1996 it was very clear that the stone would have to return to Westminster in the event of a coronation”says the academic.

Thus, the Stone of Destiny will exercise its ceremonial power with Carlos III, who will join the ancestral list of monarchs crowned by the relic since at least the 9th century, to later return to Scotland where it will open its new home in 2024: the new Perth museum .

South Africa demands the return of its diamond

Charles III’s coronation in England has reignited calls in South Africa for the return of the world’s largest diamond, the centerpiece of a scepter the monarch will carry at Saturday’s ceremony.

The Cullinan, also known as the “Star of Africa” Weighing 530 carats, it was found in 1905 in South Africa, which at the time was under British rule.

It was donated by the colonial government, two years later, to King Edward VII for his birthday.

“All the mineral wealth of South Africa belongs to the South African people, not to a British palace”he declared on Thursday. Vuyolwethu Zungula MP, leader of a small opposition party.

He “Star of Africa” it is the largest diamond ever mined, weighing 621 grams in the rough.

Sent to Amsterdam, it was carved into two main stones, seven precious stones and 96 brilliants. Many of these diamonds were set in the crown jewels, while others were given as gifts to other members of the royal family.

Since the end of apartheid, there have been periodic calls for their reinstatement, such as during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the country in 1995.

The restitution of African objects by the former colonial powers has also intensified in recent years.

“We want to recover the ‘Star of Africa’, and all the diamonds, gold and other minerals that the British empire stole from South Africa, WITHOUT COMPENSATION”tweeted Carl Niehaus, a former spokesman for the African National Congress, after the queen’s death in September.

“As South Africans, we ask for the return of our diamonds so that they can be exhibited in a museum”details an online petition to King Carlos III, which obtained more than 8,000 signatures.

Source: EFE and AFP