WILLIAM and Kate are planning to spend far more time in Scotland in a bid to shore up the Union, it’s been claimed.
The couple will make Balmoral a permanent home instead of using the castle for occasional visits and holidays, according to the Sunday Times.
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Fears are growing in the royal household that politicians are ‘losing Scotland’ and palace aides want to build on the Duke and Duchess’ successful trip north of the border last month.
The Cambridges are said to ‘think of it as their union’, and do not believe politicians should be left alone to shore it up because it is a shared monarchy rather than just a political deal.
A royal source told The Celeb Reportday Times: “They want them not to look like visitors but to look like residents.
The feeling is that successive governments have let this drift and that the politicians are irreparably divided.”
The pair would also strengthen their ties with St Andrews, the university town where they met and fell in love.
William recently gave a speech stressing his close ties to Scotland and toured the country with his wife.
He had a private audience with Nicola Sturgeon but also met ex-PM Gordon Brown, a prominent campaigner against independence.
During his recent visit north of the border Prince William, 38, told of his “dark days of grief” when his mum, Princess Diana, died.
The Duke said he loved Scotland but remembered how he had been at Balmoral when he heard of his mum’s death in 1997.
The royal, who was greeted by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh, said: “In short, Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest.
“I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning.
“And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors.
“As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep. And yet alongside this painful memory, is one of great joy.
“Because it was here in Scotland – twenty years ago this year – that I first met Catherine.
Scottish nationalist Alex Salmond recently blasted Prince William for what he saw as interfering in Scottish politics after the heir met with Gordon Brown.
In a video to his Alba supporters, Salmond asked “what on earth Prince William thought he was doing by having a confab with Gordon Brown”.
“Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
Salmond added Brown was “perfectly entitled” to meet the future king, but said it seemed “extraordinarily foolish to have a situation where it can even be said that the monarchy, the future head of state, is involved in the Scottish constitutional debate”.
The English and Scottish crowns merged in 1603 but political union did not take place until 1707- more than 100 years later.
A poll conducted in April found 69 per cent of Scots had a positive view of William.
