Charles ‘fought for Scottish independence’ at Gordonstoun

FOR the heir to the throne, convention dictates that it is unconstitutional to even vote in an election, far less to campaign for a political party.

But according to new claims, Prince Charles once threw himself enthusiastically into a mock general election during his school days – when the man set to reign over the UK backed a party intent on breaking up the nation.

During his schooling at Gordonstoun, in northern Scotland, the 15-yearold Prince marched around the grounds shouting “freedom for the Scots”, according to a newly published book.

A Clarence House source said they did not believe the story of the Prince supporting nationalists in school elections, detailed in the Simon and Schuster title Prince Philip Revealed, was true.

However, the book’s author, Ingrid Seward, said she was told about the Sixities incident by Ross Benson, her late husband, a classmate of Charles at Gordonstoun, which the Prince famously dubbed “Colditz in kilts”.

“Normally, Charles had middle-ofthe-road views,” Ms Seward, also the editor-in- chief of Majesty magazine, told a Sunday newspaper. “But one of those rare occasions when Charles blossomed occurred during the mock elections at school. Charles became a vociferous supporter of the nationalists.

“Wearing his Stewart kilt, he marched up and down the grounds during the ‘campaign’, shouting ‘Scotland forever’, ‘freedom for the Scots’ and ‘down with the rule from Whitehall’.

“Together with his other political supporters, he held aloft a banner saying ‘Vote for the Scottish Nationalists’.”

The Prince was enrolled at the school in 1962. His time at Gordonstoun, which is famous for its focus on tough outdoor pursuits, was portrayed as miserable in the Netflix series The Crown.

However, the £38,250-a-year boarding school hit back at how his time there was presented, highlighting a speech he gave in 1975 in which he said it had “taught me a great deal about myself and my own abilities and disabilities”.

Ms Seward also said Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, had a warm relationship with Alex Salmond, saying he would “often share a dram” with the former first minister.

The author said he has a “polite and civil” relationship with Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Salmond’s successor, although it is not as warm.

While many grassroots SNP activists would favour the abolition of the monarchy in an independent Scotland, the party’s official position remains to retain the Queen as head of state.

“Mr Salmond, who also got on well with the Queen because of a shared love of horse racing, took a shine to Charles because he felt that anybody who loved Scotland was OK with him,” Ms Seward said. “And through what Charles was doing at Dumfries House [a stately home saved by the Prince in 2007], he saw that he really did love Scotland.

“But Charles never had the same relationship with Nicola Sturgeon. It is polite and civil but more professional. Maybe if she knew Charles once campaigned for independence the relationship would be warmer.”

‘He marched up and down the grounds during the “campaign”, shouting “Scotland forever”, “freedom for the Scots” and “down with the rule from Whitehall’”