Anti-monarchy activists have proclaimed Meghan Markle a ‘People’s Princess’ during their protest against the coronation today.
Supporters of the Republic campaign group gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square to voice their opposition to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The protesters held up signs reading “Not My King” and showed their support for Meghan, who they say is the “Princess of our Hearts.”
The group, which staged its demonstrations against the king ahead of the coronation, is campaigning to replace the monarchy with an elected head of state.
Up to 2,000 people are expected to join the protests today, fearing eco zealots could also target the historic occasion.
Anti-monarchy activists hailed Meghan Markle as the ‘People’s Princess’ during their coronation protest today
The protesters hold up signs reading ‘Not My King’ and show their support for Meghan, who they say is the ‘Princess of our Hearts’
Republican protesters were arrested hours before the coronation, after police seized locking devices.
Footage posted on Twitter showed officers using their powers under the new law on public order, as the CEO of the anti-monarchy group Republic, Graham Smith, was among those arrested in St Martin’s Lane near Trafalgar Square.
Photos showed protesters in yellow “Not My King” T-shirts, including Mr. Smith, having their details recorded.
In one video, one officer said, “I’m not going to have a conversation about that, they’re under arrest, end of.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed four people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public disturbance on St Martin’s Lane and locking devices have been seized.
The force also said they had made a number of breach of the peace arrests in the Carlton House Terrace area and a further three arrests in the Wellington Arch area on suspicion of possession of items to cause criminal damage.
Just Stop Oil told the PA news agency that about 13 protesters had been arrested at the Mall ahead of the coronation.
A campaign group spokeswoman said five protesters were also arrested in Downing Street and one in Piccadilly.
Footage from the Mall showed the Just Stop Oil protesters being handcuffed and led away by a heavy police presence.
Campaign group Human Rights Watch described the arrests as “incredibly alarming,” adding: “This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London.”
One Just Stop Oil protester Ben Larsen, 25, said he was there to see the coronation and protest peacefully
He grinned at police officers and told them, “You searched me and found nothing.”
A police officer told him, “You have to teach yourself what peaceful protest is.”
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said they would have an “extremely low threshold” for protests during the coronation celebrations, and that protesters could expect “prompt action”.
Under the controversial new law on public order, protesters who have an object with the intent to use it to ‘shut down’ could be fined, and those blocking roads risk 12 months in prison.
Critics have previously been enthusiastic about the Met’s plans to use facial recognition software on crowds to aid its police operations.
An official warning letter to the new powers was sent to Republic, who said the coronation campaign would proceed as planned.
Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a woman in a Republic T-shirt was carried away by officers during an interview with the PA news agency.
Before being arrested, she said: “We had a delivery of signs ready for the protest and then the tactical support unit asked us how we got through the road closures.
“They wondered if what we were doing was a delivery.
“They then said they found evidence of locking devices, of items that could be used to seal themselves off, and they arrested us.”
Officers carried her away from where she had been standing outside a Tesco store.
Two men who appeared to have been part of the same demonstration were carried away by officers in a marked police van.
Following the apparent arrests, Republican activist Luke Whiting, 26, told PA: “Six Republican members were arrested, including the CEO, as the demonstration began on the edge of Trafalgar Square.
“It’s unclear why, possibly because one of them was carrying a megaphone.
“It is unclear whether the police are using these new powers precisely and whether they are misusing them to stop protests.”
11,500 police officers will be present at the police operation on Saturday.