Woman charged after ‘holding abolish monarchy’ sign before new King proclaimed

She will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

A woman who was arrested during the Accession Proclamation for the new King in Edinburgh has been charged.

Moments before Charles III was declared monarch in Scotland, a demonstrator appeared in the crowd holding a sign saying ‘f*** imperialism, abolish monarchy’.

The protester was led away by a police officer, prompting a mixed reaction from spectators.

Some appeared to applaud the officer, while one man was heard shouting:  ‘Let her go! It’s free speech!’

A 22-year-old woman was arrested in the area on suspicion of committing a ‘breach of the peace’, Police Scotland later confirmed.

She has since been released from custody and is due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Meanwhile, a protester holding a sign which read ‘not my King’ was led away by police after appearing in front of Parliament in Westminster.

The individual had also been seen brandishing an ‘Abolish the Monarchy’ sign as Charles III addresssed MPs and peers inside the seat of power.

The proclamation ceremony initially went off without a hitch, as spectators remained silent for the main declaration by the Lord Lyon King of Arms followed with a fanfare by state trumpeters.

But the event was disrupted as the declaration came to a close with a bellow of ‘God Save the King’ from the Lord.

He was immediately met with a loud boo from a male voice, which was followed by jeering from a number of spectators.

The jeering was quickly drowned out by a louder chant of ‘God Save the King’, as the trumpets sounded again, this time with a rendition of the national anthem.

Many in the crowd joined in by singing as a three-gun salute began to ring out, but there appeared to be further disruption among some sections.

The proclamation at Mercat Cross, by St Giles’ Cathedral, was one of dozens of tightly-policed events across the country on Sunday.

A handful of republican protesters also appeared outside the castle carrying banners reading ‘not our King’ in both English and Welsh.

Their demonstration was allowed to carry on under police supervision and no arrests are believed to have been made in connection to it.

A force spokesperson said of the arrest in Scotland: ‘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.’

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