WILLIAM and Kate are starting a two-day royal visit to Scotland amid reports royals are plotting to strengthen support for the Union.
The Earl and Countess of Strathearn are heading to Glasgow as part of a UK-wide tour to mark the Platinum Jubilee this year.
They will visit a project operated by The Wheatley Group to speak with service users who have benefitted from access to employment support.
They will also visit a new-build property in the Kennishead area and hear about the importance of good-quality, secure housing.
They will then visit Glasgow University where they will discuss mental health with staff and students before hearing about pioneering work being done by researchers at the school of Psychology and Neuroscience.
The visit follows a report that the Queen wants to spend more time in Scotland to bolster support for the Union.
READ MORE: Prince Charles in Union plea after SNP and Sinn Fein election wins
The 96-year-old monarch is said to have informed palace insiders she does not want to see Scotland leave the UK under her watch – with another independence referendum scheduled for 2023.
A royal source told the Sun on Sunday: “Protocol prevents her from expressing a political opinion but she wants the people of Scotland to know of her wish that they reject independence.
"The country and Balmoral has been an incredibly important part of her life. She has always been keen to stress that she is the Queen of the entire UK."
A Scottish Green spokesperson told The National: "We welcome the recognition from the palace that a referendum on independence will take place, and advise royal sources to inform Boris Johnson.”
The Scottish Daily Express also reported royal visits across the UK to mark the Jubilee are part of efforts to “spread joy” and “shore up the Union”.
During the Queen's Speech on Tuesday, Prince Charles – who was standing in for his mother – made a plea for the Union on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.
“The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance to her majesty’s government,” he told the House of Lords, “including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel