LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II has made her first comments about this week’s Scottish independence vote, urging Scots to “think very carefully about the future.”
But the popular monarch didn’t indicate a preference on how Scots should vote, carefully maintaining the neutrality that is her constitutional obligation.
Still, some may interpret her comments as a suggestion that Scots looking to embrace independence should be cautious about severing Scotland’s long ties to the United Kingdom, which date back more than 300 years.
The queen spoke after a Sunday church service near her Balmoral estate in Scotland. She made the comment to a well-wisher in the crowd.
Buckingham Palace recently issued a statement indicating her plans to remain neutral before Thursday’s vote.
Weekend polls have suggested the race is too close to call with both sides planning a frenetic final few days of campaigning.
Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to return to Scotland to attempt to persuade voters to reject independence and remain part of the United Kingdom.
The “Better Together” campaign has been emphasizing the economic uncertainties that would face an independent Scotland, while pro-independence forces have been predicting a rosy future for an oil-rich Scotland free of the United Kingdom.
If Scotland votes for independence, it would split from the United Kingdom in 18 months.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Translated into Foley style journalism: Queen Threatens Scots, Dire Consequences for Independence Suggested
Please. Scotland’s “ties” to the United KIngdom? That sure makes it sound as if the Scots of 300+ years ago were clamoring to be invaded and subjugated.
Her Majesty missed something important…if the Treaty of Union is dissolved, doesn’t this mean that the Crown has to return to Scotland given that Elizabeth II is a direct descendant of James V of Scotland? At which point, the Scots have to deal with the monarchy on their own without the English to buffer them…
Actually, 400 years ago, the last of the Tudor Monarchs, Elizabeth I of England, died of old age and her closest living relative was King James V of Scotland. Scotland joined England not by conquest, but by merger of the kingdoms.
That the English abused and killed many Scots is a whole other matter. But the English hadn’t ruled Scotland by conquest since Robert de Bruce (a Norman, btw) drove the English out of Scotland.
I’m sure the citizens and government of Scotland will give the royal mommy’s words due consideration as they burn her in effigy and drink to independence.