King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Edinburgh were met by noisy anti-monarchy protesters as they arrived for the Order of the Thistle service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Wednesday. The demonstrators, organized by the group Republic, shouted 'Not My King' and held yellow placards reading 'What did you know?'—a reference to the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which he has consistently and vehemently denied.
Protesters Outnumbered by Royal Supporters
The small group of protesters gathered behind a cordon, surrounded by flag-waving well-wishers eager to catch a glimpse of the royals. The placards also bore messages such as 'Charles what are you hiding?' and 'Not my King.' The King and Queen arrived in the Royal Bentley, with the other royals following behind, all dressed in grand emerald velvet robes and large plumed hats.
Republic's Graham Smith Speaks Out
Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said: 'I'm proud of our campaigners and activists who get out there and make sure the message is heard loud and clear. We are not a nation of royalists.' He added: 'Only 45% of the country now supports retaining the monarchy. That's massive - we are on the path to abolition, plain and simple.'
Royal Week in Scotland
The Order of the Thistle service is part of Royal Week, a week-long celebration of Scottish culture. The King and Queen kicked off the festivities on Tuesday. The Prince of Wales attended the service after an engagement in Aberdeen the previous day, arriving with his uncle, Prince Edward. The Order of the Thistle recognizes 16 knights, drawn from men and women who have held public office or given a 'particular contribution' to national life, alongside additional Royal knights. Only the monarch can bestow the honor.
