Anti-monarchy protesters arrested at Charles’ accession ceremonies

Two republican protesters were arrested at ceremonies marking the accession to the throne of King Charles III.

Symon Hill, a history tutor, claimed on social media that he was arrested for shouting “who elected him?” when the proclamation was read out in Oxford.

The 45-year-old “said he had come across the event by chance as he walked home from church”, The Guardian reported. After some onlookers told him to “shut up”, he responded: “A head of state has been imposed on us without our consent.”

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Hill said that three security guards approached him and that police then took him to a police van, despite protests from some other onlookers. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone arrested on such threadbare grounds, let alone experienced it myself,” he said.

He added: “I find it really alarming that you can be arrested for expressing an opinion in public.”

The Republic campaign group, which wants to replace the monarchy with an elected head of state, tweeted that Hill’s arrest was “outrageous”.

Another protester was arrested in Edinburgh, after an anti-monarchy sign that said “f*** imperialism, abolish monarchy” was held up ahead of the accession proclamation in the Scottish capital on Sunday afternoon.

The arrest was made outside St Giles’ Cathedral, where the Queen’s coffin is to lie in state until tomorrow, and prompted applause from some people in the crowd.

But according to The National, a man shouted: “Let her go, it’s free speech.” Hecklers were also “were heard booing throughout the event” and “calling for a republic”, the paper said.

A police spokesperson said a 22-year-old woman was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace”.