# Who would be king or queen of an independent Scotland? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2014, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318 "2014-02-14T09:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318/101 "2017-01-18T11:50:57Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The Jacobites might prefer to call him Francis _II_ of Scots out of deference to his gt-gt-gt-uncle Franz Duke of Modena who was also denied his reign as King Francis _I_ of Scotland and England. I suspect that there would be some Jacobites who would even more pedantically insist that he should be Francis _III_ of Scots, on the basis that François II of France was briefly king of Scots after being granted the crown matrimonial in 1558. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318/102 "2017-01-18T20:30:39Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Don’t assume there’s a binary English+Hanoverian / Scottish+Gaelic+Stuart division. > > Gaelic was never the native language of all of Scotland, and the Stuarts were rejected by the Scottish Parliament (not overwhelmingly, granted) even before the Union. The '15 and '45 were Scottish civil wars as much as Anglo-Scottish. I think the idea that even the Stuarts had any interest in Gaelic at all is sort of revisionist, really. James V and VI certainly didn’t. Still, Gaelic was certainly the native language of _most_ of Scotland for a time, and of the Kings of Scots for a few centuries. Pictish, Old Welsh, and Norse \> Norn have been stamped out, without leaving enough data to revive them effectively. You could substitute Modern Welsh or Faroese, I suppose, but Gaelic is still around. Anyway, I suggest we give the Scots Prince Harry for their king, and leave William in line for England Etc. That way we let the thrones diverge but take a calculated risk that they might once again merge. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318/103 "2017-01-19T20:18:06Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > … > Anyway, I suggest we give the Scots Prince Harry for their king… “Give”? Very generous of you, I’m sure. And what title do you intend to give to your hypothetical King Henry? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318/104 "2017-01-19T21:16:22Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > “Give”? Very generous of you, I’m sure. And what title do you intend to give to your hypothetical King Henry? Macbeth II (a regnal name). ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318/105 "2017-01-19T21:25:06Z")
Let [Anne](http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Princess+Anne+Trooping+Colour+PfVqHyaOdnGl.jpg)step in as Queen - tell me that wouldn’t chafe Charles’ biscuits. She’d rule w/ an iron, if gloved, fist (the better to hold a crop); she’s even been married in Scotland, plus has staved off a [kidnapping attempt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne,_Princess_Royal#Kidnapping_attempt) on herself and first husband. “Come w/ me, I’m kidnapping you for 3 million pounds.”, said Ball. “Not bloody likely!”, said Anne. “Head punch!”, said passing boxer to kidnapper. Plus we already know she gets along w/ the English queen, so that’s a nice change from the last time the queens of England and Scotland met. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-king-or-queen-of-an-independent-scotland/681318.md?page=5)