Queen Elizabeth II, 95, Prince William, 39, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 56, and Prince Edward, 57 have all travelled up to Scotland for Holyrood Week. The royals' presence has may be interpreted as a bid to strengthen the nation's ties with the Union amid increased calls for another independence referendum.

       Holyrood Week or Royal Week (as it's known in Scotland) is an annual event during which the Queen takes up residence at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and meets people from across the nation.

       This year she was joined by her grandson Prince William as she kicked off the tour on Monday.

       In a break from the usual Holywood Week proceedings the Royal Family's rising stars Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward also carried out a string of engagements elsewhere in Scotland on Monday.

       Their presence helped to fuel the perception that the royals are being used by the British Government as diplomatic tools to strengthen the union amid fresh calls for a Scottish independence referendum.

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       Reacting to the Earl and Countess of Wessex's presence in Scotland, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: "The Earl and Countess of Wessex (the Earl and Countess of Forfar in Scotland), are also in Scotland.

       "This is clearly part of a plan to highlight the value of the Union and also emphasised the close links which the Royal Family have always had to Scotland."

       Ahead of the Queen's current visit, William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge also carried out a whistlestop tour of Scotland earlier this year.

       Mr Fitzwilliams added: "The Queen’s current visit, that of the Cambridges (Strathearns in Scotland) and the Princess Royal, clearly shows the importance attached to the Scottish connection."

       While Holyrood Week has been scaled back due to the pandemic it is still hugely symbolic, Mr Fitzwilliams claimed.

       He added: "The usual large scale events in Royal Week cannot be held because of the pandemic, but the Royal Family can show what the politicians from Westminster cannot, an affinity with Scotland.

       "Balmoral in Aberdeenshire is the Queen’s much-loved summer holiday home, Queen Victoria and her beloved Albert, who bought it, were especially fond of it.

       "The Scots have shown in a recent opinion poll that republican support, though substantial, is far from a majority and it is hoped they will respond positively to initiatives that emphasise the value that is placed on keeping the union."

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       The Queen's official Twitter account shared photos of Sophie playing golf on Monday with the caption: "The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar have carried out a series of engagements in Forfar and Angus today.

       "First, Their Royal Highnesses visited Forfar Golf Club, where The Countess practised her swing."

       On Tuesday the Queen met Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

       While the contents of their meeting will remain private, they are likely to have touched on the SNP's push for a second Independence Referendum.