Queen Camilla Draws Pride Month Backlash Over J.K. Rowling Photo in Edinburgh

Q: Why did Scotland's First Minister push for independence during the King's traditional visit?

There is no clear evidence that John Swinney timed his independence push specifically to coincide with King Charles III’s Holyrood Week visit. The reporting shows the two events overlapped in Edinburgh, but Swinney’s intervention was tied to the opening of the new Scottish Parliament session, not presented as a direct response to the King’s presence. Swinney used the parliamentary opening to argue that Scotland should have the right to choose independence because, in his view, the UK has delivered “political chaos and economic stagnation.” He said independence would give Scotland more control over its energy resources, allow it to pursue stronger action on the NHS, child poverty, housing and infrastructure, and offer what he described as a “fresh start.” A central part of his case was Europe. Swinney argued that an independent Scotland could rejoin the European Union, reversing the effects of Brexit, which many Scottish nationalists say took Scotland out of the EU against its will despite Scotland’s 2016 Remain vote. He also framed the issue as one of democratic self-determination, saying decisions about Scotland’s future should be made in Scotland. That argument was reinforced by the pro-independence majority returned to Holyrood. So, the reason he pushed independence was his government’s broader constitutional and economic agenda, especially over Brexit, energy, and self-government — not because of the King’s ceremonial visit itself.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 1

Instagram criticism flared Tuesday after Queen Camilla posted a photo with J.K. Rowling from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with commenters calling the pairing tone-deaf during Pride Month.
The palace said the two met over a shared commitment to children's reading and discussed access to books for young people during Royal Week in Edinburgh.
Rowling has long faced opposition from transgender advocates over statements rejecting that trans women are women, including a 2023 post and a 2020 essay on single-sex spaces.
The reaction was split: critics posted trans-rights messages, while supporters praised Rowling's impact on children's reading and defense of women's rights.