Queen to use Scottish 'ethos' for Parliament speech says expert

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The Queen is due in Edinburgh on Saturday to speak at the opening of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. The royal speech comes amid the backdrop of renewed calls for Scottish independence. Historian Sir Tom Devine has argued the Queen has successfully embraced the “spirit” of the occasion as well as the political climate in Scotland. He has tipped the Queen to give a finely balanced speech to MSPs, praising the Scottish Government but also raising “clear and major challenges ahead.”

Sir Tom told Sky News that that Queen, who has been enjoying her annual break at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, was sensitive to views and expectations surrounding the Crown within Scotland. 

He said the Queen had “captured that spirit, that ethos of the way people up here like these done.”

The historian continued it would be “highly unlikely” that the monarch’s speech contained any other than a “continued commendation” of the Scottish Parliament.

Sir Tom added that the Queen would make a point of telling MSPs they are doing a “good job.”

JUST IN: Can the Queen be Boris Johnson’s secret weapon to save the union? VOTE

“But there are obviously clear and major challenges ahead,” added the professor.

Her majesty will meet party and parliamentary leaders at a garden reception ahead of the ceremony, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

After the ceremony, the Queen, Charles and Camilla will meet Scots who have been recognised for their contribution to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It comes after the Queen and the Prince of Wales have planted a tree at Balmoral Castle on Friday as part of a special initiative marking her Platinum Jubilee.

SNP ‘look at Westminster and disagree with it’ says Paul Sinclair

Prince Charles joked “let’s hope it will survive” as the monarch and heir to the throne poured soil around a copper beech sapling on the Aberdeenshire estate.

School pupils from nearby Crathie Primary joined the royals on Friday morning, and handed the Queen a specially made card to mark the end of her traditional summer break at her beloved Scottish residence.

The monarch thanked them for the “very kind” gesture after being presented with the card by Annie Hutchin, aged “six and a half”, and Skye Jones, nine.

Annie said afterwards: “She asked how we made it and said we did a lovely job.”

DON’T MISS

Prince William may be first to abdicate in decades amid royal shake-up [INSIGHT]
Under-the-thumb Harry will never end royal rift [VIDEO]
Prince Harry is ‘homesick’ and ‘calling UK pals for advice’ [PICTURES]

Some pupils were wearing crowns made of twigs and leaves, prompting the Queen to say: “They don’t look very comfortable, they’re like a bird’s nest.”

She added: “I’ve never been near the Queen before in person and it felt quite strange, because she’s one of the most famous people in the world, but it was pretty cool.

“I never thought I would meet her.”

The Queen and Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, talked with to children, who showed off their nature projects as part of the QGC initiative, after exploring woods in the Balmoral grounds.

Source: Read Full Article