Queen's comment before Scottish referendum discussed by experts

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Channel 5’s royal documentary Secrets of the Royal Palaces, had royal commentators discuss a moment that saw the Queen comment on the Scottish 2014 independence referendum. Due to the Queen’s position, she is duty-bound to remain impartial on political issues and not divulge her true feelings. Multiple commentators claimed the comment the Queen made that voters should “think carefully” allowed the head monarch to comment on the political issue without picking a side. But, the documentary noted the Queen walked a “very fine line” with the remark.

The narrator Glynis Barber said: “On Sunday the 14th of September, with four days remaining until the vote, as the Queen left the church the Queen stopped to speak to the crowd.

“As usual the press were there.

“As the Queen exchanged a few words with the crowd she made an unusual comment before leaving in her car.”

Political editor Alan Roden recalled the event.

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He said: “We knew the Queen would be at church, we ensured there was a reporter there as well.

“The local journalists spoke to those well-wishers who relayed what the Queen had said to her.”

Royal expert Emily Andrews said: “The Queen had said I hope people think very carefully.

“I think the cleverness of that line is that it could be read every which way.

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“I think it did still protect her position but it also does give an indication of how she really felt.”

The documentary narrator continued: “With this seemingly innocuous remark, the Queen walked a very fine line.”

Royal commentator Susie Boniface also praised the Queen for her surprising remark on a political topic.

She added: “This is a woman that does not make off the cuff remarks.

“They knew it was intended to be overheard.

“She issued a statement which was unofficial, off the cuff and entirely brilliant and well thought out.

“She didn’t express an opinion about which side should win but she just said think carefully, urged caution and she maintained her own impartiality as much as she could.”

Royal correspondent Simon Vigar also reflected on this moment and said: “It was a neutral phrase but I think most people realised what she was saying.”

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