Prince George should never be king of Scotland, according to the chairman of Scotland's campaign for independence.
Dennis Canavan, chairman of Yes Scotland and former Labour MP and Independent MSP, made the comments less than a week after the birth of the Royal Family's newest member and third in line to the UK throne.
If the people of Scotland vote in favour of independence next year a second referendum should be held to decide the head of state, Mr Canavan said.
Expressing his personal opinion, he said: "The birth of a baby is a great occasion for any family, and I congratulate the Royal Family on this happy event.
"As to the possibility of another King George, it is important to remember that true democracy is based on the sovereignty of the people rather than the sovereignty of any monarch.
"In an independent Scotland, the people of Scotland should therefore be given an early opportunity to decide whether they want to retain the monarchy or choose an elected head of state.
"Personally, I favour the latter option, because a hereditary head of state is an affront to democracy and a complete anachronism in a modern 21st century democracy."
Mr Canavan's views are supported by others in the pro-independence campaign including the Scottish Green and Scottish Socialist parties, but conflict with those of the Scottish National Party and Scottish Government who wish to see the retention of the monarchy.
An SNP spokesman said: "The policy of the SNP and Scottish Government is clear that the Queen will be head of state in an independent Scotland, as part of a continuing social union with the rest of the UK - that will be the position if Scotland votes Yes, and indeed all of the main parties in Scotland support the Queen as our head of state.
"Dennis Canavan is perfectly entitled to believe in an elected head of state, and will be free to argue that case in an independent Scotland - just as Labour MPs who support an elected head of state in the UK argue for that position at present."
The Scottish Conservatives have also spoken out against Mr Canavan's comments.
The party's deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "I believe the overwhelming majority of Scots support the monarchy just as people do across the UK and just as there, this support has grown stronger in recent years.
"Making the future of the monarchy a central theme of the independence referendum seems to me to be foolhardy."
A spokesman for Yes Scotland said Mr Canavan's views were a reflection of the variety of views in the independence campaign, he added: "Scotland is currently a monarchy and will remain so unless the people of Scotland decide otherwise.
"Yes Scotland is a broad church with many different views including those that are for a monarchy and those that are not."
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