Queen ‘horrified’ at prospect of Scotland breaking away from UK

The Queen beamed as she attended Scotland’s Braemar Gathering but privately her mood is said to be far less sunny as a constitutional crisis looms.

Buckingham Palace aides have revealed the Queen has a “great deal of concern” that Scotland will vote to leave the United Kingdom.

Palace officials have publicly insisted Her Majesty is neutral over the issue of independence despite the threat to her own position as queen of Scotland.

The 88-year-old monarch appeared in good spirits as she and the royal family attended this weekend’s Highland Games in Scotland.

But privately she is said to be very worried as the latest referendum poll showed the Yes campaign taking the lead for the first time with little more than a week to go to the vote.

Click or slide through to find out what the Palace aides have said