ALBA have demanded that the Stone of Destiny is “immediately” returned to Scotland following the King’s coronation.
The pro-independence party passed a motion at its spring conference over the weekend calling on First Minister Humza Yousaf and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to ensure the stone is brought back from London as soon as possible.
We previously told how the iconic Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, left Edinburgh Castle for the first time in over 25 years on April 28 to take part in King Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey.
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The stone was placed under the coronation chair used in the ceremony on May 6, and kept in place in the Anglican church in the weeks following, until the coronation theatre closed.
HES have been reluctant to give a firm date for the stone’s return, but the coronation theatre officially closed on Saturday.
Alba have said the stone should be returned now and called for it to embark on a National Tour of Scotland, before it takes up its new home at the £26.5 million museum being created to house it. The bespoke museum is not due to open until 2024.
“The Stone of Destiny is an ancient symbol of our nation’s sovereignty - to some it might just be a lump of rock, but it is our lump of rock,” Denise Findlay, Alba’s national organisation convener, said.
“The sole reason it takes part in coronations at Westminster Abbey is to symbolise overlordship of Scotland.
“The Scottish constitutional tradition has a history that Scotland’s kings swore an oath of allegiance to the people so it was bitterly disappointing that, whilst Westminster denies Scots their right to self-determination, the First Minister agreed to allow the stone to travel to London before following it there to needlessly swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles.
“The last time the stone was taken to London it took four decades for it to be returned. The Stone of Destiny should be immediately returned to Scotland.”
Alba’s motion added that the party “notes with concern” that the FM “allowed” the stone to be transported to Westminster during “a period that the Westminster government continues to deny the people of Scotland their right to self-determination”.
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A spokesperson for HES said: "The Stone of Destiny will return to Edinburgh Castle in the period immediately following the closure of the coronation theatre at Westminster Abbey, but we’re unable to give a date at this stage."
The coronation theatre was open for self-guided tours until Saturday May 13 where people were able to view the coronation chair among other elements from the ceremony.
We previously told how the FM said he would make sure the Stone of Destiny “comes back up the road” ahead of the ceremony to see the stone off to London.
And, Alba leader Alex Salmond attacked Yousaf for letting the stone go to London, adding that he should have refused to let it leave the country and had a stand-off on Edinburgh Castle's esplanade.
The FM told The National that it wouldn't have been the "right thing" to do.
King Charles's coronation was the first outing for the stone since it was officially returned to Scotland by John Major in 1996.
The Stone of Destiny has been used for centuries in the coronations of monarchs and the inauguration of Scottish kings.
The earliest use of the stone and exactly how and when it became associated with king-making remains unknown, but legends around its origin strongly link it with kingship and the emergence of Scotland as a nation.
The last Scottish king to be inaugurated using a Stone at Scone was John Balliol in 1292.
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