Royal Warrant - Custody of the Stone of Scone [1996-11-12]

Royal Warrant - Custody of the Stone of Scone [1996-11-12]

Regalia

Scotland

Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II under the Scottish Seal providing for the Stone of Scone to be transferred from Westminster Abbey to Edinburgh Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II

FOI request

1996-11-12

Jason Loch

Scotland

E LIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories, QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, To all to whom these Presents may concern, GREETING! WHEREAS, the Stone of Scone, whereon the Kings of Scots used to be set at their inauguration, belongs to Us in right of the Crown; AND WHEREAS, it is Our wish that all future Sovereigns of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Their Other Realms and Territories should continue to be set upon the said Stone of Scone at Their Coronation, AND WHEREAS, the said Stone of Scone is presently kept and on Our behalf, by the Dean of Westminster in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, otherwise known as Westminster Abbey; AND WHEREAS, by Warrant given under the hand of the Prince Regent in the name of his late Majesty George the Third on the Eighth day of July, Eighteen hundred and Eighteen, certain of Our Commissioners in Scotland and their Successors in office were appointed to safeguard, repair and preserve, on Our behalf the regalia of Scotland; AND WHEREAS, it has been humbly represented to Us that it is appropriate that the said Stone of Scone should be kept on Our behalf by those Commissioners and their Successors in office; NOW KNOW YE that We, in consideration of circumstances humbly represented unto Us, and of Our Royal Prerogative, proper motion, and good pleasure have nominated, constituted and ordained and do, by these Presents, nominate, constitute and ordain the following of Our Commissioners namely: (First) Our Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Michael Bruce Forsyth, Member of Parliament, Keeper of the Great Seal, or Seal used in place of the Great Seal of Scotland, (Second) Our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin Sir Francis David Charteris, Earl of Wemyss and March, Knight of Our Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Clerk of Our Archives and Registers, (Third) Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Donald Sage Mackay, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon, One of Our Counsel learned in the law, Our Advocate in Scotland, and (Fourth) Our Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Donald MacArthur Ross, commonly called Lord Ross, Senator of Our College of Justice, Our Justice Clerk, and their Successors as aforementioned to guard the said Stone of Scone on Our behalf and in accordance with Our wishes with full power and authority to them or any two of them-(Firstly) of making appropriate arrangements to ensure that at all future Coronations of Our Successors, Sovereigns of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Their Other Realms and Territories, in the said Westminster Abbey, Our said Successors be set upon the said Stone of Scone; (Secondly) of giving instructions and of constituting such plans as it shall seem appropriate to them for the custody due to the said Stone of Scone in Our Castle of Edinburgh or in another such place whether within or furth of Scotland as seems suitable to Us to constitute from time to time and when transporting the said Stone of Scone to and from such places; (Thirdly) of constituting such plans for the preservation and due repair of the said Stone of Scone as from time to time may be required; and (Lastly) of ordaining whomsoever they require for promoting Our Royal Will with greater efficacy. Given at Our Court at St. James the Twelfth day of November in the year One thousand nine hundred and Ninety Six and in the Forty Fifth year of Our Reign.

PER · SIGNATURAM · MANU · S. D. N. · REGINÆ · SUPRA · SCRIPTAM

Scottish Seal

Document displays light ornamentation. It begins with a large ornamental E in burgundy and gold in front of blue foliage on a red background. Incipits are in burgundy. There are interpuncts between the elements of the eschatocol.

Scottish Seal is attached by burgundy and orange ribbons.

In Scotland, the term "Royal Warrant" can also refer to instruments that would be considered Letters Patent at Westminster.