A group of environmental protesters demanded royals cede land, threatening to disrupt the start of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The protest resulted in multiple arrests, including two people who sat down in the middle of the road as the marching band approached. Both were removed prior to the start of the “Trooping of the Colour,” a military parade to open the festivities in celebration of the queen’s seven decades on the throne.
“A number of arrests have been made of people who attempted to enter the ceremonial route in The Mall at approximately 10.10am today,” a spokesperson for the police told the Daily Mail. “The arrests were public order related for highway obstruction.”
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One protester, Beau King Houston, called out the royal family for not transitioning to plant-based farming prior to the protest.
“This transition is common sense and simple, we all win. 76% of currently farmed land could be rewilded and absorb carbon from the atmosphere,” Kingston said, according to the outlet. “This would restore nature, spare billions of animals, and present a solution to the climate emergency, all in one act.”
The protest from Animal Rebellion, which promotes climate change and animal rights, occurred minutes before the military parade began in celebration of the monarch’s birthday, where Prince Charles received the royal salute for the first time as the 96-year-old queen remained at the palace due to health concerns. Charles was accompanied by his eldest son, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, and his sister Anne, the princess royal.
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The parade marked the start of the Platinum Jubilee festivities, which will continue through Sunday. Other events planned for this weekend include the lighting of the principal beacon Thursday night, the service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, the Epsom Derby on Saturday, and the finale on Sunday night, which will conclude with a singing of the British national anthem “God Save the Queen.”
The parade has been a tradition in England since 1748.
