Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister, has urged Prince William and other members of the royal family to stay out of the independence discussion.

Salmond accused Prince William of “poor judgment” after meeting with Gordon Brown to discuss independence, and has said that being pulled into the constitutional issue would be “extraordinarily foolish”

Following the re-election of an SNP government earlier this month, the Alba party leader said that “desperate unionists” were attempting to bring the monarchy into the constitutional discussion.

Mr. Brown was a major figure in the victorious 2014 campaign to keep Scotland in the union, which saw the Queen urge people north of the border to “think very carefully” about the matter before the referendum.

Mr Salmond questioned “what on earth Prince William thought he was doing” by seeing Mr Brown, claiming that dragging him into the argument over a second referendum would be “foolish.”

“Whatever Prince William thought he was doing by agreeing to a confab with Gordon Brown just as he set up his latest campaign for the union … we should have no hesitation in seeing from that meeting, unionist preparation for attempting to persuade a constitutional monarchy to intervene in a constitutional debate which should be left to the people,” Mr Salmond said.

Yes supporters should “read the tea leaves” and prepare for Indyref2 now, according to the former First Minister, since the Unionist side was already doing so.

After the meeting, Kensington Palace stated that the Prince had been hearing various groups’ perspectives on independence.

In a video address to followers, the nationalist leader said, “We should have no hesitation in seeing from that meeting, unionist preparation for attempting to persuade a constitutional monarchy to intervene in a constitutional debate.”

“It would be enormously wise of the Royal Family to follow what has been the Queen’s example over her long reign, as to keep the monarchy over and above politics.

“It does seem 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.”

He added: “Back in 2014 David Cameron made a last ditch desperate and failed attempt to drag the Queen into politics. The Brown meeting shows poor judgement on both sides, but the same degree of unscrupulous unionist desperation. The independence team should take note.”

“It is quite clear that the forces of the union, David Cameron previously, and now Gordon Brown, have no compunction in getting themselves ready and set for what is coming in the next referendum campaign.

“However, the Scottish Parliament elections have left them in a state of disarray.

“That is why the case for Scottish independence must be progressed now as a matter of urgency.

“The Tories at Westminster are surprised that they are not already facing a renewed constitutional challenge and are wondering what on earth is going on.

“It would be infinitely better for the independence side to seize the moment and strike when the iron is hot to progress the constitutional issue.”

Mr Salmond maintained that the argument for Scottish independence must now be advanced “as a matter of urgency” since Holyrood had a majority of independence-supporting MSPs.

The court circular noted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s private meeting with Mr Brown and his wife Sarah at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Thursday, but there were no specifics on the subjects addressed.

Mr Salmond also revealed that Alba had to postpone its inaugural annual conference due to a higher-than-expected turnout.