Not my king: The coronation of King Charles on May 6 was fraught with protests by anti-monarchy groups in London. Hundreds of yellow-clad demonstrators gathered among the 10-deep crowds lining the procession route in central London. They stood out from those clad in red, white and blue, and held up signs saying “Not My King”.
Police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic and 51 others at the coronation, saying their duty to prevent disruption outweighed the right to protest.
Protest group leader arrested
Republic said its leader Graham Smith was detained before the procession began and photos circulated on social media showing police officers seizing demonstrators’ placards.
“We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning,” Commander Karen Findlay of the London Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
“Over the past 24 hours there has been a significant police operation after we received information protesters were determined to disrupt the Coronation procession.”
Charles, Camilla booed
Republic vowed to mount the biggest protest against a British monarch in modern history and protesters booed as King Charles and Queen Camilla made their way to Westminster Abbey, and as the service was relayed publicly on large speakers.
“It is disgusting and massively over the top,” said Kevin John, 57, a salesman from Devon who was among the protesters.
He further said, “It is also hugely counterproductive by the police because all it has done is create a massive amount of publicity for us. It is completely crazy.”
Police did not confirm Smith’s arrest. They said they had acted because they believed protesters would seek to deface public monuments with paint and disrupt “official movements”.
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