Stone of Destiny to return to Perthshire as museum centrepiece

The Stone of Destiny will return to Perthshire as the centrepiece of a new £26.5m museum, it has been announced.

Construction work on the new museum at Perth City Hall is due to start in February, with it scheduled to open in 2024.

The red sandstone block was originally kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey in Perthshire.

It was used for early Scottish Kingship ceremonies until it was taken to England by King Edward I in 1296.

The stone was brought back to Scotland in 1996 and is currently displayed at Edinburgh Castle.

The decision to move it to Perth was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is one of the four commissioners for the safeguarding of the regalia who advise the Queen about all matters relating to the stone.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Following due consideration, the commissioners were satisfied that the proposals for Perth City Hall gave full and proper regard to the need to ensure the security and conservation of the Stone, its accessibility to the general public and that it would be displayed in a manner in keeping with such an important cultural artefact."

Perth and Kinross Council said the story of the Stone of Destiny would be told using new technology and would be free to view.

Council leader Murray Lyle said he was "hugely-proud and excited" at the decision, which he described as a "game-changer" for the area.

Geological testing revealed the stone was quarried at Scone, just outside Perth.

It was taken to Westminster Abbey by England's King Edward I in 1296 and is still used to crown British monarchs.

On Christmas Day 1950, four Scottish nationalist students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey and smuggled it back to Scotland, sparking a huge manhunt.

It was hidden for months then placed in Arbroath Abbey before being returned to London.

Since 1996, it has been displayed at Edinburgh Castle.

Perthshire North MSP and deputy first minister John Swinney said he was "absolutely delighted" by the news of its move to Perth.

"As someone who has campaigned for the Stone to return to Perthshire for almost a quarter of a century, it sometimes seemed like this day would never come," the SNP MSP said.

Tory MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, Murdo Fraser, said the "tremendous" news was "a real boost in dark times".