First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am extremely sad to hear of Ian Hamilton’s death. He was a lawyer of exceptional quality and a legend of the independence movement.

“He will long be remembered as one of the Christmas 1950 liberators of the Stone of Destiny. During my time as the SNP leader, I have received occasional words of wisdom, encouragement and support from him, which I will always treasure.

“He is one of the many giants on whose shoulders the modern SNP stands. My condolences go to his loved ones.”

Dean of Faculty, Roddy Dunlop KC, said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ian Hamilton KC, the oldest living member of Faculty. Ian was a Faculty legend, renowned for his fearless advocacy and effortless bonhomie.

Ian Hamilton KC

“His name will live long after his death, as the man who, whilst a student, ‘liberated’ the Stone of Destiny; as the man who, before even calling to the bar, addressed the Inner House as the second petitioner in the seminal case of MacCormick v Lord Advocate 1953; and as the man who thereafter was one of the greats in the Scottish criminal courts.

“Ian turned 97 very recently. I had sent him a birthday card on behalf of Faculty, recalling his efforts in MacCormick and some of my own experiences of Ian as junior counsel. I received a lovely letter from Jeanette, explaining that – whilst ailing sight meant that she had had to read it to him – Ian had greatly appreciated the card and the memories that it had invoked. His wit endured to the end, apologising for forever calling me Bill (he had worked closely with both my father and my grandfather).

“Ian was a formidable advocate, a great friend to many, and a lovely man. It is thus with deep sorrow that we bid him farewell.”

Former SNP minister Alex Neil said Mr Hamilton as a “true patriot”.

“Very sorry to hear that Ian Hamilton has passed away,” he tweeted. “Ian’s daring recovery of the Stone of Destiny along with Kay Matheson and others will be remembered for a thousand years. He was a man of distinction, a great thinker and a true patriot.”

Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire North tweeted: “Very sorry to learn that Paisley’s very own, Ian Hamilton has died.

“An accomplished advocate, he will be remembered best as an independence campaigner.”

The Stone of Destiny was stolen from Scone, Perthshire and taken south in 1296 by Edward I. It was placed beneath the coronation throne in Westminster Abbey, where it remained for 650 years.

Mr Hamilton, along with students Gavin Vernon and Alan Stuart, and domestic science teacher Kay Matheson took the stone to Scotland on Christmas day 1950.

Writing in Scottish Legal News on the occasion of Mr Hamilton’s 90th birthday in 2015, Sheriff Kevin Drummond KC said: “There is so much more to Ian Hamilton than ‘The Stone’.  It is difficult to avoid clichés when talking about Ian but, as time goes by, icon and legend are words which increasingly and inevitably come to mind. ‘Wee Hammy….The Ancient Mariner ….or Ham the Bam’ scarcely seem consistent with iconic status but his professional colleagues at the bar simply know a caring, humane man of principle and integrity who has never compromised his political or any other principles even when his own personal and professional best interests were on the line…..and were Ian’s ever on the line.

“When your principles and your personal best interests coincide life can be comfortable: when they are in fundamental conflict then you find the measure of the man. Few members of the bar began their careers by suing the Lord Advocate: in the oft quoted decision in constitutional law of MacCormick v Lord Advocate (which some think was about post boxes and some about parliamentary sovereignty) it is occasionally forgotten that the “Glasgow University student”, the second Petitioner, was Ian Hamilton.

“Ian’s principles haven’t changed … but something has changed: the political climate of today has transformed many of Ian’s views from what were once fringe minority to debatable mainstream.”