Queen opens fourth Scottish Parliament

EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 1 (UPI) -- Queen Elizabeth II of Britain opened the fourth Scottish Parliament since devolution Friday, telling members politics in their country is not "for the meek."

The atmosphere was friendly, with First Minister Alex Salmond suggesting that the Scottish National Party may be nationalist but is not Republican. He called Elizabeth the "Queen of Scots" and said Scottish citizens will remain "firm friends and equal partners" with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, even if it pushes for independence, The Guardian reported.

The queen congratulated Scotland on its years of autonomy, The Daily Telegraph said.

"No-one would ever argue that Scottish politics is the business of the meek, the passive or the faint-hearted," she said. "The maturity of the legislation passed in this chamber and the well tested processes giving rise to it are evidence that the Scottish Parliament has come of age."

The queen was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, who is also duke of Edinburgh. Ceremonial events included a military parade and a procession down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood.