Guard Alba

22/05/2026

The forgotten story.

10/04/2026

Held in a private collection and not seen in public since 1935, Joshua Reynolds' portrait of Euphemia, eldest daughter of the Fifth Earl standing in front of Bronnach Castle, believed to date from 1769, is to go on display in Bronnach Castle this summer. Be sure to book your tickets now - the waiting list is expected to grow!

01/03/2026

AMcP Gordon is Guard Alba’s author in residence. We’ve applied for a Form E (Eviction Application) but he has, so far, stubbornly refused to move out.

www.guardalba.org.uk/shop

22/02/2026

www.guardalba.org.uk/shop

19/02/2026

The Scone of Destiny

The Scone of Destiny, also known as the Scone of Scone, remains one of Scotland’s most sacred and surprisingly delicious national treasures.

For centuries, this legendary ceremonial bake was used in the crowning of Scottish monarchs at the ancient royal site of Scone between the 9th and 13th centuries. Historians state that no ruler could truly claim the throne unless crowned in the presence of the mighty Scone itself, symbolising strength, prosperity, and Scotland’s long standing belief that important decisions should never be made on an empty stomach.

In 1296, King Edward I of England removed the Scone during his invasion of Scotland and transported it to Westminster Abbey in London. English records controversially referred to it as a “stone,” though Scottish experts maintain this was either a translation error or a deliberate attempt to disguise its buttery superiority.

The Scone returned to international headlines in 1950 when four Scottish students famously reclaimed it from Westminster Abbey in a daring festive season operation. The group reportedly took great care during transport to prevent crumbling, proving that even acts of national defiance require proper baking preservation techniques.

In 1996, after more than 700 years away, the Scone was officially returned to Scotland, where it had a temporary stay in Edinburgh Castle. It has since been moved and is now proudly displayed at Perth Museum, close to its historic origins at Scone, where visitors can view the legendary ceremonial bake under careful protection from historians, tourists, and thieving hungry haggis.

Measuring approximately 26 by 16.7 by 10.5 inches and weighing an astonishing 335 pounds, the ceremonial Scone is believed to have been made from coarse oatmeal and traditional raising agents using a closely guarded royal recipe passed down through generations of Highland bakers.

Scholars remain fiercely divided on one final historical mystery, was it cream first or jam first? and how many conflicts throughout history began because of that very question?

17/02/2026

13/02/2026

Guard Alba and the Ardanach Wedding

Now available - ships first class post in the UK -
www.guardalba.org.uk/shop

31/01/2026

Guard Alba’s Director, Sir Portree Potterton, is Holyrood’s go-to expert on rot - wet and dry.

29/01/2026

The Battle of Portaloo