Andy Murray Wimbledon win: Salmond says flag was in wife's bag

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond held aloft the Saltire flag after Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the Saltire he waved after Scots tennis star Andy Murray's Wimbledon win had been in his wife's handbag.

He said he had taken it into the All England Club for last year's final "but didn't get chance to use it".

Mr Salmond and his wife Moira celebrated after Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

The 26-year-old tennis player's triumph eclipsed his loss in the 2012 final against Roger Federer.

SNP leader Mr Salmond told both BBC Radio 4's Today programme and BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that the flag had been in his wife's handbag.

Some national newspapers had criticised the first minister for waving the Saltire directly behind Prime Minister David Cameron's head.

But he said he had had nothing to do with the seating arrangements and that his actions had not upset Wimbledon's All England Club owners.

Mr Salmond told Good Morning Scotland: "The All England Club were ladies and gentlemen about it, they are nice people.

"The Saltire is our national flag, Andy is a fantastic, magnificent Scottish sportsman, anybody has got the right to wave the national flag, it's a great way to celebrate this amazing triumph."

Alex Salmond's wife Moira (middle behind PM) was holding the Saltire

He hailed the tennis star as the "king of Scotland" as he suggested a reception for him could be held in Stirling Castle, near Dunblane, where Murray grew up.

When asked what plans there were to honour the sportsman, Mr Salmond said: "He's already got the freedom of Stirling, I was thinking of a reception in Stirling Castle, which has got a nice sort of home town ring to it, with Dunblane, something like that.

"But Andy is king of Scotland, he can have anything he likes."

Mr Cameron also hinted that the first British men's player to win Wimbledon since 1936 would be honoured.

Asked about the possibility of Murray becoming Sir Andy, Mr Cameron said: "Honours are decided independently but, frankly, I can't think of anyone who deserves one more."

He added: "It was a fantastic day for Andy Murray, for British tennis and for Britain.

"I think he lifted the spirits of the whole country.

"We were wondering yesterday morning 'Do we dare to dream that this is possible?' and he proved absolutely that it was."