The Stone of Destiny is a powerful symbol of the British monarchy. Also known as Stone of Scone, the centuries-old object has been placed under the coronation chair for the crowning of British monarchs since the 13th century, including King Charles III in May 2023.
![[Laser scans in 2023 revealed the subtle marking 'XXXV' which is the number 35 in Roman numerals, according to Professor Sally Foster, archaeologist at the Stirling University]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/09/94468595-14320807-Laser_scans_in_2023_revealed_the_subtle_marking_XXXV_which_is_th-m-63_1737710957012.jpg)
Ahead of the king's coronation, subtle markings on the stone revealed previously unknown Roman numerals – XXXV, or 35. Now, an expert has revealed the meaning of this mysterious inscription, which she thinks was made as recently as the early 1950s. Professor Sally Foster, an archaeologist at Stirling University, thinks the Stone of Destiny is actually one of 35 pieces of the original sandstone block.
![[Also known as Stone of Scone, the centuries-old object has been placed under the coronation chair for the crowning of British monarchs since the 13th century, including King Charles III in May 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/10/94470729-14320807-image-a-22_1737715398630.jpg)
The other smaller 34 pieces were separated from the ancient artefact after its famous theft from Westminster Abbey in 1950. 'The penny dropped – 34 fragments plus one stone equals 35,' Professor Foster told the PA news agency. 'Of course I can't prove this, but what else might it be?'.
![[Also known as Stone of Scone, the revered object has long been an ancient symbol of the Scottish and British monarchy, used since the 1300s for the inauguration of kings and queens. Pictured, inside Westminster Abbey during a welcome ceremony, April 29, 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/09/94468869-14320807-image-m-58_1737710733688.jpg)
The Stone of Destiny, pictured here on display at the new Perth Museum, was used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs until the 13th century, and thereafter in the coronation of English and later British monarchs. Laser scans in 2023 revealed the subtle marking 'XXXV' which is the number 35 in Roman numerals, according to Professor Sally Foster, archaeologist at the Stirling University.
![[Pictured, a service to mark the arrival of the Stone of Destiny to Westminster Abbey in London in April 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/08/94467223-14320807-image-a-52_1737707558285.jpg)
