Queen Elizabeth on Saturday called for calm in the wake of the chaos triggered by the last week’s historic referendum under which Britain voted out of the European Union and asked for quiet thinking and contemplation before deciding the next move, her first intervention on the Brexit vote.
The 90-year-old monarch was addressing the Scottish Parliament at its official opening against the backdrop of Scotland having voted overwhelmingly in favour of remain - 62 per cent against 38 per cent - triggering calls for a second referendum in Scotland for independence from the UK.
“Retaining the ability to stay calm and collected can at times be hard. As this parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for which can enable deeper consideration of how challenges and opportunities can be best addressed,” she said.