A Scot fighting to get a title he claims is rightfully his has blasted the Royal family - accusing them of insulting Scotland. Retired professional golfer John Ince hit out after Prince Andrew wore ceremonial robes to King Charles' Coronation.
Ince is in a battle with the authorities to be given the hereditary title Baronetcy of Watson of Earnock. The title was held by his father, Sir Douglas Hamilton Watson, of Hamilton, but he has been told he cannot inherit it as his mother and father were unmarried.
The 80-year-old, who moved abroad following the death of his father 65-years-ago, believes the laws surrounding titles - which have prevented females from inheriting from their fathers - are outdated and should be changed.
He had hoped to be granted his father's title in time for him to attend the King's Coronation. But his bid was unsuccessful and he has now hit out over the ceremony.
He was incensed that Prince Andrew was wearing Garter robes to the event when Queen Elizabeth had banned him from doing so. The Duke of York stepped back from royal duties and stopped using His Royal Highness title in an official capacity in 2022.
The late monarch prevented him from wearing his Garter robes in public for her last Garter Day at Windsor Castle. He did not appear alongside senior members of the family at the annual Order of the Garter despite being a Knight of the Garter.
The move was described as "a family decision" by Buckingham Palace at the time. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain.
And John believes the fact Prince Andrew wore his Order of the Garter robe, which holds special significance for the royals, to the service at Westminster Abbey last month was a sign of disrespect to the people of Scotland.
He said: "Prince Andrew was wearing the Knight of the Garter at the Coronation when the late Queen took the title away from him. What the authorities have said to me about this is a load of rubbish if he can wear it to the Coronation when it was taken away.
"I need to restore what was given to Watson of Neilsland and Earnock At this stage Scottish title is being insulted by the present Royals. It's one rule for them and another for the rest of us.
"The more I think about it the Royals are getting away with not being accountable for their incorrect way of presenting themselves. It seems that Royals can get away with anything. I am sure my late father would have wished the title to go forward.
"These ways and the out of date rules around the Baronetcy are stopping me from allowing me to have a knight hood bestowed and a Scottish title once again in place."
John, who now lives in Perth, Australia, said previously: “I didn’t bother about the title when my father died in 1958. I walked away from my family, I didn’t bother about the title.
“I’m entitled to have the title of the Watson’s Sir - the title of Sir. I’ve got proof of who I am, exactly who I am. I want to try and get back the title that was handed down and given to the family, away back in 1892."
The Royal Family website states that King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table in medieval times that he established the Order of the Garter - his own group of honourable knights.
The King is Sovereign of the Garter and in the present day, according to the website, it includes "several senior members of the Royal Family, and 24 knights chosen in recognition of their work".
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