The coffin of the British Queen, first public display in Scotland... Will it calm the separatist movement?

Unprecedented Public Disclosure Ahead of England
Scottish Government "Supports Charles III Succession"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 94, was unusually first revealed to the public in Scotland, drawing attention to the background. This move is interpreted as an effort to highlight the Queen's special relationship with Scotland and her emphasis on unity during her lifetime, and to calm the renewed atmosphere of Scottish independence following the UK's Brexit (the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union).

According to the UK BBC on the 12th (local time), the Queen's coffin, who passed away on the 8th at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, was moved to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on the same day for a memorial service. The funeral procession was mainly attended by royal family members including the new King Charles III, his wife Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew.

The memorial service was held with the participation of key cabinet and political figures, including UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, and from around 5:30 p.m. on the same day after the service, the Queen's coffin was publicly displayed for the first time for 24 hours. Originally, the Queen's remains were scheduled to be moved to London on the 13th and then to Westminster Hall for a four-day public viewing, but the coffin was revealed first in Scotland ahead of schedule.

This measure is interpreted as an effort to ease the pro-independence sentiment in Scotland, which has been strengthening since the UK's Brexit decision. Previously, the Scottish Government held a referendum on independence from the UK in 2014, which was rejected with 45% in favor and 55% against.

The Scottish Government also mourned the Queen's passing and declared support for King Charles III's succession. Nicola Sturgeon, head of the Scottish Government, said in a speech to the Scottish Parliament on the day, "We are ready to support Charles III in inheriting his mother's legacy," and added, "We thank the extraordinary Queen for her life and hope she rests in peace."

Queen Elizabeth II was also conscious of the Scottish independence atmosphere and spent two months every summer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, emphasizing unity. However, concerns are emerging that the independence movement may grow stronger as King Charles III, who is less popular with the public, ascends the throne following the Queen's death. While the mourning atmosphere for the Queen's passing may limit independence movements for now, the succession of Charles III, who has a weaker public support base, could strengthen independence efforts in the future.

James Mitchell, a professor of public policy at the University of Edinburgh, explained in an interview with the New York Times (NYT), "The Queen was very popular. However, Charles III may not enjoy the same level of popularity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.