Anti-Monarchy Protester Arrested During King’s Proclamation in Edinburgh Now Charged

An Accession Proclamation Ceremony publicly proclaiming King Charles III as the new monarch at Mercat Cross, Edinburgh, on Sept. 11, 2022. Jane Barlow/PA Media

A woman who held an “abolish monarchy” sign at a proclamation ceremony for King Charles III has been charged in connection with a breach of the peace, according to police.

The unnamed woman was detained outside St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland, ahead of the Accession Proclamation of the King in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Anti-Monarchy Protester

On Sunday, thousands of people lined the Royal Mile near Edinburgh Castle throughout the day, either to hear the king’s accession proclamation being read out shortly after noon, or to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II when the hearse carrying her coffin arrived after 4 p.m.

Moments before the proclamation, the demonstrator appeared in the crowd opposite the Mercat Cross, holding a sign saying “[expletive] imperialism, abolish monarchy.”

Officers then appeared behind her and took her away.

According to PA media, this prompted the crowd to applaud. While some said “let her go, it’s free speech,” others yelled, “have some respect.”

Police later said in a statement: “Further to the earlier guidance about the woman—she was arrested for her behaviour, not the sign.”

Police Scotland said the 22-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told The Epoch Times by email: “A 22-year-old woman was arrested outside St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday 11 September 2022 in connection with a breach of the peace.”

“She was charged and was released on an undertaking to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date,” police added.

King Charles III’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Sept. 8 at Balmoral castle, a royal estate in rural Scotland, at the age of 96.

On Monday, the king heard condolences from the House of Commons and House of Lords, in his first address to both Houses of Parliament as monarch, at Westminster Hall, London.

On the same day, an anti-royal activist was seen being escorted away from the gates of Parliament by a group of London Met police officers.

Footage showed that the woman was holding a piece of paper that read “Not my King,” as she was led away by four uniformed officers.

A spokesperson for The Metropolitan Police told The Epoch Times by email that a member of the public was “asked to move away from the Carriage Gates outside the Palace of Westminster this morning in order to facilitate vehicle access and egress through the gates.”

“She was not arrested and was not asked to leave the wider area,” the police spokesman added.

King Charles III has now returned to Scotland to continue his tour of the home nations to hear the condolences of legislators.

PA and Lily Zhou contributed to this report.

This report has been updated to include a statement from Police Scotland stating that the woman was arrested for her behaviour, not for her sign.