DHAKA: The Queen has said she believes Scotland will unite in a "spirit of mutual respect and support" following the independence referendum.

She said she understood there would be "strong feelings and contrasting emotions".

But she had "no doubt" this would be tempered by "an understanding of the feelings of others".

Voters in Scotland rejected independence by 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 in Thursday's referendum, reports BBC.

The Queen's statement came after Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond announced he would be stepping down after his pro-independence campaign suffered defeat in the referendum.

The Monarch is currently staying at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire.

BDST: 0950 HRS, SEP 20, 2014