Queen Elizabeth was loved in Scotland, but her death could give independence a new boost. Some would like to get rid of Great Britain, but still want to be part of the monarchy.
The roadsides were packed to the brim during the nearly 300-kilometer journey in Scotland, where the Queen Elizabeth’s the coffin was transported from Balmoral Castle to the capital, Edinburgh, on Sunday.
The queen died in the castle in north-east Scotland, where she had spent her childhood summers and which was later her favorite residence, especially in the summertime. Queenly it is assumed that he wanted to spend (you switch to another service)his last days in Scotland.
For some of those who gathered on the side of the street interviewed by the AFP news agency, the Queen represented the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
– He was what held the United Kingdom together, said the 67-year-old Archie Nilcol.
However, there is also strong support for independence in Scotland.
From the crowd honoring the Queen’s memory, you could hear some individual critical interjections, reports AFP. At least one woman was arrested for carrying a poster against the royal house.
– Some Scots think that an era is coming to an end, and that it gives a natural opportunity for a new beginning, writes a Scottish journalist Alex Massie in The Times.
The royal family’s relationship with Scotland is close
The royal house of Great Britain and Scotland have warm relations, despite the difficult historical relationship between the two countries. The countries have fought bloody wars against each other before the development of unification that began in the 17th century.
Scotland was important to Queen Elizabeth, among other things, because she had a connection to Scotland through both her father’s and mother’s families.
“Scotland has played a very special role in my family’s life over the years,” the Queen said during a visit to the historic city of Perth in 2012.
Many of the members of the British monarchy have attended boarding schools in Scotland. For example, the new king Charles attended Gordonstoun private school in northern Scotland. His father had attended the same school, prince philip.
Charles has later described the harsh boarding school days as lonely and downright “hellish”. However, his relationship with Scotland is also warm and he has spent a lot of time in the Scottish landscape. Charles is known to be a lover of Scotch whiskey and has been seen from time to time wearing the Scottish national costume, a kilt.
– The king loves Scotland as much as his mother. But she does not have the same prestige as her mother, writes the journalist Andrew Neal in the Daily Mail.
Scotland is pushing for a new referendum on independence
Scotland held a referendum on remaining in the United Kingdom in 2014. At that time, pro-independence parties lost the vote.
The Scottish People’s Party, the SNP, which governs Scotland, has promised to organize a new referendum on independence. Support for independence has increased, for example, due to Brexit, i.e. Britain’s separation from the European Union. The majority of Scots would have preferred to remain in the EU.
The Scottish people’s respect and admiration for the queen would seem to be at odds with independence ideas. However, this is not necessarily the case.
– I want to get rid of Westminster, but I am not against the royal family, said the person interviewed by AFP Theresa Brown.
The SNP, led by Nicola Sturgeon, has said that leaving the United Nations would not mean leaving the monarchy at the same time.
According to opinion polls, the support of the royal house has still decreased, especially among younger people. According to a report by the British Future think tank only 45 percent of Scots support the monarchy j (you will switch to another service)a 36 percent would like a republic.
Charles III meets the Prime Minister of Scotland
King Charles traveled to Edinburgh on Monday to watch his mother’s coffin being moved to St Giles Cathedral for public viewing. On the same trip, Charles meets the leader of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.
Charles will also visit Northern Ireland and Wales in the coming days, as part of the ceremonies related to the change of power.
Thoughts of independence may not come to the surface when the kingdom is in the middle of mourning, but the change of monarch in any case means a new era.
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The Queen’s coffin set off from Holyrood Palace, with the royal family in tow — live broadcast