BRITAIN'S most senior civil servant and the Queen's private secretary intervened to ensure the monarch would appeal to the people of Scotland in the final days of the referendum campaign, it has been reported.

 

Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, and Sir Christopher Geidt, for the palace, were said to have been involved in the negotiations which led to the Queen remarking that voters should "think very carefully" before making their decision on September 18.

The Guardian newspaper said senior Whitehall figures suggested to the palace that the Queen should intervene on the matter, just as polls had shown an increase in support for the Yes campaign.

However, it was said that Sir Jeremy and Sir Christopher were aware of the need for any comment by the Queen, who normally remains impartial, not to be too strongly worded but to reflect her support for the union.

She eventually spoke spoke out, to a wellwisher after the Sunday service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral on September 14, saying: "I hope people will think very carefully about the future."

A Whitehall source told the newspaper: "Without her taking a side, it cast just the right element of doubt over the nature of the decision."

Buckingham Palace and the Cabinet Office declined to comment on the allegations.