The royal family should relinquish any claims to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the event of independence, according to a Scottish Greens MSP.
Andy Wightman said the palace in Edinburgh should be returned to the people and instead be used to host an elected second parliamentary chamber.
The Lothian MSP said this would be needed in the wake of a vote for independence and the extra administrative responsibilities it would bring.
Mr Wightman said: “The Scottish Greens believe Scotland should be a normal, independent, European republic where the power is invested in all the people, not simply in those who have been born into a particular family.
“When Scotland does regain its independence it will be because the people have chosen that path and I think it would be particularly fitting if at that point the people and their institutions were returned to complete democratic control.
“The Palace of Holyroodhouse is ideally situated to host an elected second parliamentary chamber, which will no doubt be needed to assist with scrutiny of the considerable additional administrative responsibilities that an independent Scotland would take on.”
Mr Wightman has previously questioned who runs and pays for the royal palace in Scotland’s capital and has called for “greater transparency” on the issue of funding.
In a column published in the Edinburgh Evening News in 2017, he said ownership of the palace should be transferred to Scottish ministers, with a joint investment plan agreed with the royal household.
In return, he suggested the Queen would be welcome to stay for free each July.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe