British Queen meets Scottish officials after independence proposal
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UK Queen Elizabeth II meets with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who proposed conducting another referendum on Scottish independence in October 2023.
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British Queen Elizabeth and Nicola Sturgeon
On Wednesday, UK Queen Elizabeth II met with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who proposed conducting another referendum on Scottish independence in October 2023.
According to the royal family's Tweet, "The Queen held an Audience with the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Her Majesty traditionally has an Audience with the First Minister during Holyrood Week."
The Queen also met with Alison Johnstone, the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer.
Holyrood Week, also known as Royal Week in Scotland, is a week during which the Queen visits different parts of Scotland to celebrate Scottish culture, achievements, and community. Holyrood Week is normally held between the end of June and the beginning of July.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the Scottish parliament would publish an independence referendum bill, with a vote on secession scheduled for October 19, 2023.
Sturgeon said she would write to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to request permission to hold a consultative referendum, emphasizing the importance of the vote being legal. She stated that the matter would be referred to the United Kingdom Supreme Court.
Johnson has previously stated that he would not allow a second referendum since the Scottish people had opted to remain in the United Kingdom in a 55% to 45% vote in 2014.
To hold the referendum, Scotland needs the permission of British authorities.
Moreover, the UK Prime Minister is playing games with Ireland and using it as a pawn in the country's ongoing trade battle with the European Union following the Brexit deal, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said on May 15 right before Johnson's visit to Northern Ireland.
