The Queen is reported to be "horrified" about the possibility of Scotland leaving the United Kingdom, according to sources who spoke to The Times.
Palace aides, ministers and MPs close to the royal family claim that Her Majesty has “a great deal of concern” that Scotland will vote to be independent, and has asked to be updated daily in the buildup to the referendum on 18 September.
However, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson insisted the Queen is “strictly neutral” in the independence debate, but admitted she is taking a “close interest” in the vote.
Online commentators have joked that Her Majesty had organised for the news of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second pregnancy to be released to encourage warm feelings towards the union and the monarchy.
@UK_Together now they will play royal card. First the queen, now a baby and how privileged we are to be ruled by undemocratic aristocracy!
— gavsuave (@gavsuave) September 8, 2014
The Queen wields no political power and remains politically neutral as her position is symbolic. Her views are traditionally kept confidential, and any conversations she has may not be reported.
But these rules have been breached on notable occasions over her six-decade reign, allowing a glimpse into what Elizabeth may be feeling on the political matters of the day.
The Queen's political views
On Scotland(01 of08)
Open Image ModalA relieved David Cameron forgot he was being recorded in 2014 when he told former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg that Elizabeth had "purred" when he told her the Scottish referendum 'no' result.
"The definition of relief is being the prime minister of the United Kingdom and ringing the Queen and saying 'It's alright, it's okay'. That was something. She purred down the line," he said, suggesting she was mightily pleased.
On Thatcherism(02 of08)
Open Image ModalIn 1996, historian Professor Pimlott said The Queen was "in her own way, a bit of a lefty". His biography of the monarch claimed she disapproved of Thatcherism and its treatment of the poor. According to The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II, Her Majesty felt Thatcher's policies were damaging Britain with their uncaring attitudes. (credit:Boris Spremo via Getty Images)
On Abu Hamza (03 of08)
Open Image ModalBBC security correspondant Frank Gardner broke a story about The Queen being angry that radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri had not been arrested in 2012. The BBC apologised on the same day for revealing the content of a private conversation. (credit:Metropolitan Police/PA Archive)
On Turkey(04 of08)
Open Image ModalIt seems The Queen is not keen for Turkey to join the European Union. According to the girlfriend of Denis MacShane, the Labour Europe minister, Her Majesty said in 2011 that Turkey should be kept out of the EU for a 'long time’. (credit:Gary Yeowell via Getty Images)
On invasion(05 of08)
Open Image ModalAccording to The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II, The Queen was angry that the UK Government's lack of protest against the US invasion of Grenada in 1983. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
On her son's marriage(06 of08)
Open Image ModalAnother biography, Elizabeth The Queen by Sally Bedell Smith, said that the queen feared "history was about to repeat itself" when Prince Charles experienced problems in his marriage to Diana. The Queen reportedly feared Charles would abdicate for his now wife Camilla, in the same way as King Edward VIII who resigned the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. (credit:Boris Spremo via Getty Images)
On Egypt(07 of08)
Open Image ModalBritain should perhaps not have invaded Egypt to regain Western control of the Suez Canal in 1956, the Queen is reported to have thought. Israel invaded first, followed by Britain and France. The Queen's views were revealed in The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II. (credit:Associated Press)
On bombing Libya(08 of08)
Open Image ModalThe same biography of Elizabeth II also suggested Her Majesty was doubtful about the Britain's move to allow the USA to use British airbases for a bombing raid on Libya in Spring 1986. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)