THE QUEEN could remain as head of state of an independent Scotland if it stays in the Commonwealth, a leading constitutional expert has said.

Professor Robert Hazell told GB News how he predicts that the Queen would be represented in Scotland by a Governor-General like in other Commonwealth countries like Australia.

Professor Hazell, who is professor of government and the constitution at University College London, made his remarks whilst commenting on the Queen’s trip to Scotland.

They came after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who met the Queen in private yesterday, announced plans to hold another referendum on independence for Scotland.

Professor Hazel told GB News: “The Queen would be represented by a Governor-General, as she is in the other countries where she is also head of state around the world.

“And it would be for the Scottish government, in effect, to choose that Governor-General; that’s what happens in places like Australia.”

The Scottish government wants to unwind the Acts of Independence of 1707, which saved the country economically when they were passed, professor David Starkey told GB News.

He explained: “The union that is wanting to be dissolved by Nicola Sturgeon is the second, it’s the union of 1707. This is the thing that powers everything.

“Why it’s so important: it transforms Scotland, Scotland before that point, is backward. It’s desperately poor.”

The Scottish government says that an independent Scotland could be wealthier, happier, and fairer.

Earlier this week Nicola Sturgeon met the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

The Queen held an audience with Ms Sturgeon and Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone.

But the 96-year-old monarch was not at a garden party in the grounds of the palace on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Sturgeon presented the Queen with a number of gifts, including a limited edition bottle of whisky.

The meetings were held in private, with no details of the conversations revealed.
The Queen arrived in Edinburgh on Monday for the start of the Royal Family’s annual week in Scotland.

Although she has been scaling back her engagements recently due to mobility issues, she has made a number of public appearances this week.

They include the traditional arrival ceremony – the Ceremony of the Keys – on Monday, and an armed services parade on Tuesday.

The garden party at Holyroodhouse is one of the annual highlights of Royal Week but it was confirmed earlier this year that the Queen would not attend.

Instead, Prince Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex mingled with crowds.