Jumat, 27 Agustus 2021

Take that, Nicola! Queen gets back to royal duty with bid to win over Scottish Parliament - Express

Queen 'danced the conga' with public in 1945 says hosts

The Queen will head to Edinburgh on October 2 to take part in a special opening ceremony of the devolved Scottish Parliament. The monarch won't be alone during this key engagement, as her son and heir Prince Charles and Camilla, known as Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, will also be in attendance.

During this special opening ceremony, the focus will be on celebrating the efforts of local heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it may also represent an act of royal charm offensive in Scotland amid calls for a second referendum on the nation's independence from the rest of the UK.

This announcement will come as a blow to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who remains determined to secure a second vote on independence.

Alister Jack, the Scotland secretary, said the British Government could approve a second referendum on the issue of the nation's independence if support for staging one remained above 60 percent for a sustained period of time.

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

The Queen is to attend a special opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament (Image: GETTY)

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

The Queen during an audience with Nicola Sturgeon (Image: GETTY)

This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson refuse to concede to calls for a second referendum for months.

Michael Gove, who had also ruled out a second independence referendum earlier this year, said at the beginning of August the UK Government would not stand in the way of another vote if it represents the "settled will" of voters.

He told the Sunday Mail: "The principle that the people of Scotland, in the right circumstances, can ask that question again is there.

"I just don’t think that it is right, and the public don’t think it is right, to ask that question at the moment. 

READ MORE: Edward's heartfelt admission about Kate: 'Never going to be easy!'

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

The Queen carrying out an engagement during her Royal Week (Image: GETTY)

"If it is the case that there is clearly a settled will in favour of a referendum, then one will occur."

These comments come as the SNP is facing a decline in support for the Scottish independence he campaigns for.

After the Yes faction consistently came out as a winner in polls, the tide started to turn at the beginning of 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The royals have paid several visits to Scotland over the past few months. 

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queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

The Queen is currently at Balmoral Castle (Image: GETTY)

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

Prince William and Kate during their joint tour of Scotland (Image: GETTY)

In December, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge included Scotland in their royal train tour, during which they met people from all walks of life to hear how the pandemic had affected them.

While in Scotland, the couple met frontline workers and thanked them for their contribution during the ongoing pandemic.

On the same day, it was announced they had been named joint patrons of NHS Charities Together.

Prince William returned to Scotland alone in May to carry out his duty as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

The Scottish Referendum was held in 2014 (Image: EXPRESS)

Stressing how "incredibly important" Scotland has always been to him, the Duke recalled he met his wife at St Andrew's University.

He also spoke of the nation as a beloved retreat for his grandparents and his father - as well as the place where he learned about the death of Princess Diana.

William was later joined by Kate, and together they visited several organisations and returned to their alma mater. 

The Queen also travelled north of the border between the end of June and the beginning of July to carry out her traditional Royal Week - a few days packed with events during which she travelled across Sterling, Edinburgh and Glasgow to meet business owners, royal fans and charity leaders. 

queen elizabeth ii news return duty scottish parliament opening ceremony royal family news

Prince William and Kate travelled to Scotland in May (Image: GETTY)

While in Scotland, the Queen also held an audience with Ms Sturgeon. 

The Queen, who is currently spending her summer break at her beloved Balmoral Castle, never openly voiced her views on the referendum.

However, one royal expert believes the Queen to be "all for unity".

Ingrid Seward previously told Newsweek: "She's all for unity. I think for Scotland to be independent is not something she would want at all."

In 2014, ahead of the first vote on Scotland's independence, she told a royal watcher outside Crathie Kirk she hoped "people will think very carefully about the future".

Buckingham Palace insisted at the time this comment did not breach the Queen's constitutional impartiality.

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2021-08-27 12:06:00Z
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