Queen: 'Enduring Love of Scotland' Will Unite UK

Leader of Scottish National Party resigns
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 19, 2014 3:28 PM CDT
Queen: 'Enduring Love of Scotland' Will Unite UK
A file photo of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

The queen has officially weighed in on Scotland's rejection of independence—a rarity for her when it comes to current affairs, notes the Telegraph—and she's asking pro-UK Scottish residents and Brits not to gloat. She acknowledged the "strong feelings and contrasting emotions" involved in the referendum, but asked that those emotions "be tempered by an understanding of the feelings of others." The one thing both sides have in common, she said, is "an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all."

The queen held off on her statement until late in the day to let politicians have their say first. Among them was Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party, who announced that he was resigning in the wake of the defeat, reports the Guardian. "I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership," he said. Britain promised to give Scotland greater autonomy if the referendum failed, but the details remain to be worked out. Click to read about what comes next. (More Queen Elizabeth stories.)

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