Lack of respect

Ronald MacLean (Letters, 8 July) may think the misnaming of our monarchs is trivial, but it is a historical lie. It is an attempt to pretend that an independent Scotland never existed, just as the Victorians tried to erase the very name of Scotland with North Britain (North British Fusiliers, North British Hotel, etc).

It is another aspect of the widespread English belief that English equals British and vice versa. This lack of respect is what underlies the rise of nationalism here. The only satisfactory solution is to retain the dual nomenclature of James VI & I, James VII & II, William II & III, William III & IV, and by extension Elizabeth I & II.

Colin McAllister

South Street

St Andrews