I presume John Kelly is making a joke I have failed to understand when he refers to Mary Stuart as Queen of Scotland (Why Mary's not queen of Scotland, Letters, August 11).

Traditionally, kings and queens in Scotland are monarchs of the people, not of the country. Mary Queen of Scots was the correct title.

It was Mary's son James VI of Scots and I of England who embraced the concept of the king as overlord of the land. Scots have always had a less deferential view of monarchy.

Ann Ballinger

Cumbernauld