London: A man has been arrested after shouting at Prince Andrew as the Queen’s disgraced son walked behind the late monarch’s coffin during a procession in Edinburgh.
The man, who later identified himself to Scottish media as Rory, positioned himself in the front row of the huge crowds which had gathered to watch the Queen’s flag-draped coffin travel through the city to St Giles’ Cathedral, where her body is now lying-in-state.
The Queen’s four children – King Charles III, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex – were walking behind the coffin when the man repeatedly shouted: “Andrew, you’re a sick old man”.
A heckler shouts at Prince Andrew as the Queen’s coffin is taken up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.Credit:Screengrab
Andrew was stripped of royal duties, military affiliations and patronages following a disastrous 2019 television interview in which he attempted to defend his friendship with the convicted late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Queen’s son claimed a photograph of him with Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with the prince on three occasions when she was 17, was faked.
As a non-working royal, Andrew was denied the right to wear military uniform during the procession in Edinburgh on Monday afternoon local-time, in stark contrast to Charles, Anne and Edward.
Andrew and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will not be allowed to wear military uniform for a several other ceremonies and events planned before the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19.
During Monday’s procession, the man who identified himself as Rory cupped both hands around his mouth and repeatedly shouted, “Andrew, you’re a sick old man.”
The prince and his siblings did not show any reaction but members of the crowd began chanting “God save the King” to try and drown out the protestor.
Two men in the crowd pulled the heckler by the back of his light blue Melbourne City FC jumper and pulled him backwards to the ground. One woman told them to “get your hands off him”.
King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk behind the Queen’s coffin.Credit:PA
A police officer took him away from the procession and in a recorded encounter the young man could be heard saying: “I’ve done nothing wrong”.
The protestor was later arrested.
The 62-year-old Andrew has denied any sexual relations with Giuffre but earlier this year settled the matter for an undisclosed financial sum, ending the prosect of a damaging civil trial in the United States. British media claimed the figure may have been as high as £12 million ($20.37 million).
Asked about Monday’s incident, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 22-year old man was arrested in connection with a breach of the peace on the Royal Mile at around 2.50pm on Monday, September 12.”
The Queen’s four children followed the procession from Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Catherdal. Credit:PA
Meanwhile, police in London defended footage showing officers leading away a protestor who held a sign outside the House of Commons on Monday morning which said, “Not my King.” The incident occurred as King Charles III was due to arrive at Westminster Hall for an address to MPs.
“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,” Scotland Yard said in a statement.
“She was not arrested and was not asked to leave the wider area.”
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