Queen Elizabeth urges Scots to 'think' before independence referendum

Edinburgh, Sept 15:

on Sunday urged Scots to "think carefully" ahead of Thursday's Scottish independence referendum, a media report said.

In an unprecedented move after attending a church near Balmoral Castle in northern Scotland, the Queen went to speak to royal watchers and urged people to think very carefully about the referendum Sept 18, the online Scottish Daily Record reported, according to Xinhua.

It was the very first time the Queen, who is normally above politics, spoke out on the independence question, said the report.

Dressed in green with a black handbag, Queen Elizabeth went to the church with the Duke of Edinburgh, it added.

Buckingham Palace insisted she had not expressed any preference

Last week, the Queen insisted she did not wish to influence the independence vote, saying the issue was "a matter for the people of Scotland".

Supporters of the 'No' campaign had called on her to intervene, following reports she was growing increasingly concerned over the prospect of a split. However, the Buckingham Palace insisted she had not expressed any preference ahead of Thursday's vote.

On Saturday, both 'Yes' and 'No' campaigns were given a final push at the last weekend ahead of the referendum.

In October 2012, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement, allowing Scotland to hold an independence referendum in autumn 2014 on the question of "should Scotland be an independent country."

IANS