An Australian man, Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, has been charged with “malicious mischief” after allegedly attempting to damage the protective glass case housing the Stone of Destiny, an object deeply tied to Scotland’s royal heritage.
The 35-year-old, whose address was listed as Sydney, made an appearance at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday.
Though no plea was entered, the court ordered his detention pending a follow-up hearing scheduled for next week. The charge he faces is equivalent to vandalism under Scottish law.
According to police, officers responded to reports of a “disturbance” at Perth Museum on Saturday. Witnesses described a man dressed in a kilt trying to smash the case that encloses the historic sandstone relic.
The artifact in question, weighing 335 pounds (150 kilograms), is also known as the Stone of Scone (pronounced “Skoon”). Historically, it played a central role in the coronation of Scottish monarchs at Scone Abbey, located near Perth.
In the late 13th century, England’s King Edward I seized the stone and transported it to Westminster Abbey in London. There, it was placed beneath the coronation chair, symbolizing English and later British, rule.
The stone has featured in coronation ceremonies ever since the unification of the English and Scottish crowns in the 17th century. Its relocation to London remained a source of resentment for Scottish nationalists.
In a dramatic episode in 1950, four students from the University of Glasgow removed it from Westminster Abbey, though it was eventually returned in time for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation.
In 1996, after seven centuries, the stone was officially returned to Scotland and installed in Edinburgh Castle. However, it was agreed that it would be temporarily returned to England for future coronations.
Due to the object’s political and historical sensitivity, its 2023 transfer to London for King Charles III’s coronation occurred under strict secrecy and heavy security.
More recently, the Stone of Destiny was placed on display at the newly revamped Perth Museum.
According to the museum’s website, “a range of 24/7 security measures [are] in place at the Museum to protect this precious object.”
