Two women were arrested on Wednesday after attempting to climb over a safety barrier amid protests at the coronation of King Charles in Edinburgh.
Police Scotland claimed the pair, aged 20 and 21, had been arrested in connection with a breach of the peace, adding: “Our priority is public safety, balanced against people’s rights”.
Campaign group This Is Rigged, an offshoot of Just Stop Oil seeking to press the Scottish Government into ending new oil and gas developments, said two of its activists were detained.
They identified one as Hannah, 21, from Glasgow, who said: “The system is rigged against the people. Why are we giving the Honours of Scotland to an old man, before helping our children, our young people’s future?”
The anti-monarchy group Republic said peaceful protesters shouting “Not My King” were separately detained outside the royal spectacle, which comes two months after the King was crowned in London.
The group said it was concerned at reports of three protesters with banners that read “turn the palace into social housing” and “no Kings no Queens no cops” being led away in handcuffs.
Republic said the anti-monarchists arrested on the Royal Mile were later handed recorded police warnings and released, adding: “They’re thankful for the support given.”
Police Scotland did not immediately confirm further arrests.
Anti-monarchy protesters also complained of being kept “out of view” of the royals behind large blackout screens.
Republic’s demonstration began at 10am at the Lawnmarket, opposite St Giles’ Cathedral, where the ceremony later took place.
Determined to make their voices heard, the protesters joined together for chants of “Not my King” and waved signs reading: “Only the tourists are cheering” and “Who voted for this?”
Kevin Quinn, 60, from Edinburgh, who has believed in abolishing the monarchy for most of his life, said the screens had been erected “to keep the revolting peasants out of view”.
He said he was demonstrating “to protest the idea of a hereditary monarchy and the inherited privilege that goes with that”.
He added: “It’s an antiquated form of government. Nobody would allow me to fly a plane on the basis that my father’s a pilot, so the same thing should apply to the head of state. They should be elected. I think the time has come for the country to face up to it.”
Lara Celini, 49, also from the Scottish capital, described the show of pageantry as “upsetting and obscene” at a time when many people are struggling to pay the bills.
“I think the monarchy is a broken institution, it’s undemocratic, and I like to see power as close to the people as possible. It doesn’t fit well in a modern and contemporary world – we can do so much better,” she said.
“We’ve got people that are hungry, we’ve got a cost of living crisis, we’ve got a climate crisis. It just seems completely wrong.
“It’s about time that we abolished the monarchy and let them [the Royal Family] get on with their lives, and perhaps lead more normal and happy lives as well.”
Lorraine Smith, 58, also from Edinburgh, said she wanted to live “in a fairer, more equitable society” with “proper democratic accountability” rather than “some medieval throwback”.
She said the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year and her succession by King Charles III had led to more people openly questioning whether the monarchy should continue.
“The Queen had such an emotive hold on people, that to say anything against the monarchy as an institution was taken as a slight to her, and people were very upset about that,” she said.
“That doesn’t hold any more, so I think there’s probably more of an opportunity to say what a lot of us have been saying for a long time. This is not about personalities, this is about the institution and what it represents and what it says about our country that we don’t like.”
Unsurprisingly, those lining the Royal Mile ahead of the royal procession to St Giles’ held polar opposite views, with some draped in Union Jacks or waving flags.
James Taylor, 38, who had travelled to Scotland from his home in Derbyshire for the occasion, estimated that he has been to between 50 and 60 royal events in his lifetime, including the coronation in London in May.
“I’ve always been interested in the Royal Family, I wanted to be able to see the King and it’s a momentous occasion that he’s going to be here to receive the Honours of Scotland. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it,” he said.
“I think Charles seems to be settling into the role of King very successfully, there seems to be no fewer people turning out wanting to see him. We just need to give him the opportunity to grow into the role.”
He added that anti-monarchy protests receive “a disproportionate amount of attention” when you compare the “relatively small amount of people” who take part compared to those turning out to show their support.
Isabel McBride, 66, had travelled from Fife to catch a glimpse of the King, having never attended a royal event before in her life. “I just wanted to come and show my support,” she said. “It’s a new era, and he needs support.”
Her view of the anti-monarchy protests is simple: “Why are they here? If I didn’t like something I wouldn’t come and waste my day on it.”
Anne Connolly, 65, from South Shields, also had a differing view of the fenced off area for the demonstration outside the cathedral. “They’ve given the protesters the best spot here, the best view. It isn’t fair.”
Police Scotland were approached for comment.
