Scotlands monarchy?

Question

IF Scotland became independant, and its monarchy re-established,
Who would have a claim to throne?
And why would they have a claim?

I am not sure but i dont think the current english queen would have a decent claim, but hey i could be wrong!

Answer 1

If Scotland were to become an independent monarchy. Queen Elizabeth has as good a lineage to claim as anybody.

Many Scots supported the descendants of James II in the eighteenth century, but this line definitely became extinct.

If you have a very long memory, I suspect that the Queen has a better claim to the monarchy in Scotland than in England. The Stuarts had passed the crown successfully from father to son in Scotland for centuries before James VI became James I of England. James VI and I's claim to England was far from indisputable. In addition, the English crown changed hands dubiously during the fifteenth century Wars of the Roses.

However, two points.

Firstly, when monarchies have split historically what has happened is that the smaller country has chosen a new monarch. This occured at the beginning of the twentieth century when Norway became independent of Sweden. It also happened in the sixteenth century when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V abdicated and split Austria and its associated possesions from Spain. I suspect that if Scotland and England became independent the Windsors might hope for something similar to happen, e.g. Charles gets England and Andrew gets Scotland, or William gets England and Harry Scotland. But that brings us to the second point.

Secondly, having lived as an Englishman in Scotland, I would be surprised if after becoming independent Scotland would wish to maintain a monarchy. A large proportion of Scotland's population identifies itself as Catholic, with Irish links, and would object strongly to a Protestant monarch specific to Scotland. However, the Scottish Nationalist movement is, insofaras politics splits on religious lines in Scotland, mainly Protestant. Even so, they see the monarchy as part of a parasitic London based establishment and would at the very least demand that the monarchy were scaled down on Scandanavian lines. I suspect this would also be disastrous for the monarchy in England as the essential Scottishness of the royal family would be highlighted. If you are a monarchist it effectively follows that you must believe in the indissolubility of the United Kingdom.

Answer 2

Very difficult to answer, the system of monarchy in Scotland is extremely complex. The system is not like that of traditional monarchies.
Remember though that it was James 6th of Scotland that became James 1st of England, so in a traditional sense the present queen would be in with a good shout as she is directly descended from the House of Stuart.

When I was at school, many years ago (before anyone else says it ) I was told that the present Queen can trace her lineage back through both Mohammed and Jesus, I have been trying to find a link online to it but I have come up with nothing.
It would make a good question wouldn`t it ?

Answer 3

Firstly, Nutterschick, Mary Queen of Scots' son did not disappear into the ether at all! He became James I of England and Scotland as when Elizabeth I died she had no heir. She was afterall known as the Virgin Queen.

The Scottish Stewart line died with Queen Anne. She was the last of the Stewarts and though she had many pregnacies, she only bore one live heir. He died in infancy. Unless there are decendents of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his mistress Clementina Walkinshaw's child then I know of no others. If there had been a substantial claim by anyone on Anne's death surely we wouldn't have had to have allowed the Hanovarians their claim as we did. England afterall would not allow a Roman Catholic monarch and I doubt Scotland would back that either.

Answer 4

Er...have any of you actually studied our history? Queen Elizabeth II of England is also Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland already. So we in Scotland have a Queen.
In 1603 we saw the Union of the Crowns when James VI of Scotland became James I of England as well on the death of Elizabeth I of England. He was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and King James V of Scotland. All of the subsequent Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom descend from King James VI & I who was the first Stuart King and heralded the Jacobean era. Note to English readers, the English Crown was unified to the Scottish Crown and not the other way about. Even down to the present day the Scots are still ruling you (Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, John Reid et al) Hoots mon an up yer kilt!

Answer 5

The Stewarts were the last true Scottish royal family, but they haven't held a throne in centuries. If it reverted back to monarchy, outside the British one it currently has, I think a new royal would step up. Not a descendant of Wallace, perhaps, but probably a Bruce. He held the throne at one point, so any descendant would have claim, however shaky. But, in all likelihood, someone completely unheard of would take it.

Answer 6

Cool avatar ---
I don't have an 'educated' answer for you - but, only a feeling - personal, at best. . .
Seems to me that Scotland keeps a very low profile, which, considering all the Irish dust and bluster, is a very wise course. . . what would it gain anyone, to rattle chains? Unless or until the 'present' arrangement becomes unduly oppressive, why seek change?
The British monarchy system does not 'rule', anyway . . . and it is an endearing icon of the past, rapidly becoming a questionable reality, for the future.

Answer 7

Of course the current English Queen has a decent claim, as our fellows have told you before. However, and excuse if I'm wrong, there are other descendents of the House of Stuart. You may search about it, it's interesting. As far as I'm concerned, the House of Wittelsbach of Bavaria are related to the Stuarts, and has a decent claim too.

Answer 8

If you follow the Stewart line from James I up to the present day the heir to the Stewart throne is, incredible as it sounds, the man who would also be King of Bavaria if they still had a monarchy, Prince Franz, born in 1933.
He is the Stewart claimant to the British throne as the Stewart line was barred in favour of the Hanoverians in 1701.

Answer 9

I believe it would be the Stewarts, as the last king of Scotland was descended from them (James).

To be honest, many people who live in Scotland (including me) do not want a completely separate country, if they did the SNP would be in control at Holyrood. We would just like to have more control over issues that affect Scotland, without so much Westminster interference

Answer 10

The blood lines between the Scottish and English crowns are very much entined from the 15th century: there maybe a few clan rulers with pure-ish blood: I think you are right though, the Queen of England is as close as anyone!