THE First Minister sent a message to the Queen at the official opening of the fourth Scottish Parliament – suggesting that she may soon be reigning over a new, independent Commonwealth country.

Much of the two-way messages were coded and highly civil, but there was a sense that the Queen knew exactly what the respectful joust was about. Most observers thought she was hinting at Alex Salmond's own reputation as a political bruiser when she said: "No-one would ever argue that Scottish politics is the business of the meek, the passive or the faint-hearted."

He too seems to have felt he had some leeway, hinting that independence is coming and that the Queen might have an extra nation state under her dominion.

The opening of the fourth session was a colourful occasion, with a riding down the Royal Mile and bands and individual musicians playing inside the Parliament, thrown open to the public for the day. But, while it was opened yesterday, it was then closed for a two-month recess, until September 5 – to fit in with the royal diary, the last week of June being traditionally a Scottish week for the Queen.

The Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead, delivered an echo and update of the work by her predecessor Edwin Morgan – referred to repeatedly yesterday – while the Queen appeared enchanted by Karine Polwart's version of Burns's Now Westlin Winds and Kirsty Grace's version of Polwart's Follow the Heron.

The Queen said: "Now, in its second decade, the Scottish Parliament is firmly established as an integral part of Scottish public life.

"The maturity of the legislation passed in this chamber and the well-tested processes given rise to are evidence that the Scottish Parliament has truly come of age. This is an achievement of which all members past and present should be proud.

"To the new and returning members of the Scottish Parliament, I offer the observation that in return for the authority placed upon you a very great deal is asked of Scotland's elected politicians. Perhaps as much now as ever before. Among the Scottish people, the roles and responsibilities of this Parliament and all its members are probably better known and understood than at any stage in the past 12 years. As this consciousness of your work has grown, so inevitably have expectations."

She echoed in that a speech by Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick, who foreshadowed the tough decisions ahead in difficult economic times.

Mr Salmond responded: "This is a country increasingly comfortable in its own skin. We aspire to be more successful, more dynamic, fairer and greener; we want to uphold the values of the common weal, to protect the vulnerable, nurture the young. We want to emerge from current economic difficulties into better times."

Citing the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible as a way the Scots and English nations could collaborate, he spoke of phrases that had passed into usage – and London may apply to him – thorn in the flesh, fly in the ointment and a world turned upside down.

On the Queen's historic visit to Ireland, he quoted her words about "firm friends and equal partners" and hinted at a future relationship between Scotland and England mirroring that between Dublin and London.

He said: "Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, together we do have much to celebrate – the English language of Shakespeare, James Joyce, Dylan Thomas and Edwin Morgan himself."

He added: "Whatever constitutional path that the people of Scotland choose – and it is their choice to make – we will aspire to be, in your words, 'firm friends and equal partners'."

Again hinting that Scotland could become a nation in its own right, he added: "From 1603 until this Parliament entered a rather long adjournment in 1707, your predecessors reigned over two sovereign nations – and there was nothing particularly unusual in that arrangement.

"Today, your majesty, you come here as Queen of Scots but also as head of state of 16 different realms – and leader of a Commonwealth comprising 54 nations. It is a role which you have always taken seriously and discharged flawlessly."

Unspoken was that the figure could rise to 55 nations. It was a clever speech, but many Labour MSPs did not applaud.