UK: In Scotland, the passing of Queen Elizabeth forever links the country to a new monarch, but it also restarts discussion of Scottish independence from Britain.

The formal coronation of Charles as King took place on Sunday as thousands of spectators stood for hours to watch the 96-year-old coffin's journey from his Balmoral estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

However, Scotland has a vibrant republican culture, and among the crowds that gather along the Royal Mile, some applause can be heard.

Just before the proclamation, a 22-year-old woman was arrested for disturbing the peace by waving a placard with an aggressive anti-monarchical slogan. There was some sparring too.

Elizabeth and her son King Charles are seen by some in the crowd as symbols of the power of the United Kingdom, which is made up of Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Archie Nicholl, 67, who previously paid his respects at the royal Balmoral estate where the Queen died on Thursday, said she was "one of those things that (the UK) were together."

However, many who expressed their admiration for the late emperor brushed off the desire to make it their country.
"Clearly the Queen had respect for Scotland," said primary teacher Nicola Sandilands, 46.

She urged the royal family to become "more relevant and current" and said they are as Scottish as anything else.

He acknowledged that the departure of a king or queen "could make it easier to be a republic."

According to an article by Scottish journalist Alex Massey in The Times, some Scots will see this as an opportunity for a fresh start.

The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), which wants a second independence vote after a "no" vote in 2014, does not advocate a republic.

The phrase "Queen of Scots" was first used by its founder, Alex Salmond, who also developed a close relationship with Charles.

When the Queen passed away, SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among the first to offer her "deep condolences" and praise her "extraordinary dedication and service".

But the change to a new monarch based in England, who is also inclined to wear kilts and was educated at a Scottish boarding school, runs the risk of severing ties.

Veteran journalist Andrew Neal wrote in the Daily Mail, "The union is probably in even greater danger now that she is gone."

"King Charles will nurture Scotland in the same way that the Queen did. However, he simply lacks her power.

According to a survey conducted in June by the British Future think tank, 36% of Scots preferred a republic, while 45% supported a monarchy.

Meanwhile, 51% chose to remain part of the UK.
Before his ascension to the throne, Charles was known to speak on a variety of topics, including climate change.

Scotland's Daily Record tabloid commended Charles for taking up the position and urged him to make protecting the environment his "defining mission" as king.

However, he would have to avoid everything remotely political, especially freedom, as a constitutional monarch.

Adam Tomkins, professor of constitutional law at the University of Glasgow, told The Herald that "the passing of the Crown is a moment of fragility, perhaps even a fragility."

Whether Charles "could emulate his mother in maintaining the discretion of the monarchy to stand or fall" was a "burning question" according to him.

While she never publicly supported independence, Queen Elizabeth expressed her desire to "think very carefully about the future" to a member of the public ahead of the 2014 referendum.

When declaring victory for the anti-independence campaign, then-prime minister David Cameron was heard saying he had "spoiled the phone" – an error for which he later apologized.

On Monday, when he returns to Scotland to lead a procession of his mother's coffin at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh and keep a watch, Charles will meet Sturgeon for the first time.

His coffin will be airlifted to London on Tuesday for a four-day funeral before the funeral on 19 September.

Charles will end his four-country tour of Britain by traveling to Wales and then to Northern Ireland.

Theresa Brown, 51, a receptionist in Edinburgh, expressed satisfaction that she would continue to rule Scotland.
"I primarily want independence from Westminster. The Royal Family doesn't bother me, she declared.

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