The First Minister even appeared to suggest the monarchy itself is under threat as she warned those who want to ‘preserve’ it to ‘listen and reflect’ on the Duke of Sussex’s complaints
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Nicola Sturgeon has sided with Prince Harry by saying people "who want to preserve the monarchy" should "listen and reflect" on what he has to say.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been waging war with 'the Firm' from their base in California ever since their plan to become 'part-time royals' was dismissed out of hand in 2020.
Harry's bombshell memoir, Spare, revealed a string of intimate revelations about his personal life and listed a slew of accusations against family members including King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
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Asked if she had read the book, Ms Sturgeon replied: "I think people, particularly those who want to preserve the monarchy, would do well to kind of listen and reflect. They probably don't agree with all of it.
"But you know, he tells of childhood trauma, deeply grieving, you felt he lived a life that he wasn't able to process that or to be himself. He felt that the relationship between the Royal family and the media is a bit toxic. And there are lots in there that shouldn't be dismissed, in my view."
It is the second time in a matter of weeks that Ms Sturgeon has backed Prince Harry in his ongoing feud with his family, after previously describing him as "someone who I have a lot of admiration for".
She added: "I am sure the Royal Family will be listening to what Prince Harry is saying.
The First Minister was known for her staunch republican views at the start of her political career and she is less enthusiastic about the monarchy than her predecessor, Alex Salmond.
Ironically, however, SNP policy is to retain King Charles as head of state in an independent Scotland while Mr Salmond's breakaway nationalist party, Alba, wants to ditch the monarchy.
Despite this, many believe a referendum on becoming a republic would be among the first items on the agenda if the SNP were to ever successfully break up the United Kingdom.
The First Minister said: "There is an argument for republicanism in Scotland after independence and in the UK right now. It is not a position I am particularly pushing but these are decisions to be democratically taken."
Ms Sturgeon was not invited to Harry and Meghan's wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018, unlike Mr Salmond who was at William and Catherine's royal wedding in 2011.
During the Covid pandemic, she publicly rebuked William and Kate – known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland – for breaking her travel restrictions during a visit to Edinburgh on the royal train.
Ms Sturgeon's latest comments came in a wide-ranging interview for The News Agents podcast, in which she also lambasted critics of her GRR Bill as "misogynistic, transphobic and racist".
*Listen to the full interview on The News Agents podcast this afternoon on Global Player.
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