The British public has backed the police over its handling of protesters during the coronation of King Charles III this month. This is despite the force expressing "regret" after arresting six members of Britain's leading anti-monarchy group before the ceremony.
More than half (56 percent) of respondents said they felt the police handled the coronation "well," in a survey of 2,001 British adults compiled by YouGov between May 9 and 10. Around two-fifths (41 percent) replied that the force struck the right "balance" in handling protesters.
On the morning of May 6, over 11,000 police officers were deployed around London in what was one of the biggest public-security operations in Britain of the last decade.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey with a secure route mapped from Buckingham Palace. The monarchs travelled by carriage with thousands of well-wishers lining the streets. A large crowd of protesters also made their presence known, congregating in Trafalgar Square, a prominent central London position passed by Charles and Camilla's procession.
Many of the protesters were members of the leading anti-monarchy group, Republic, known for their vibrant yellow shirts emblazoned with the slogan: "Not my king."
On the morning of the coronation, Republic CEO Graham Smith and five of the group's organizers were arrested and detained by police after a search on a van containing placards and protest material. In total, the police made 64 arrests on coronation day, with 52 of those being over concerns that people were planning to disrupt the event. At least four charges have so far been made.
On May 8, the Metropolitan Police expressed "regret" over Smith and the Republic organizers' arrests.
"The investigation team have now fully examined the items seized and reviewed the full circumstances of the arrest," the police force said in a statement.
"Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event," the statement added.
"This evening, all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken. We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route."
On the day of his arrest, Smith posted to Twitter: "I'm now out of the police station. Still waiting for my colleagues. Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.
"I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name," he tweeted.
I’m now out of the police station. Still waiting for my colleagues.
— Graham Smith 🇺🇦 🏳️🌈 (@GrahamSmith_) May 6, 2023
Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.
I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.
Despite this, the public have shown support for the police force's action, according to the new data compiled by YouGov.
The respondents were asked: "From what you have seen and heard, how well or badly do you think the police handled the policing of the coronation celebrations over the weekend?"
Just under a third (29 percent) surveyed responded "very well," with 27 percent saying "quite well." This was opposed to 11 percent who said "very badly" and 14 percent, "quite badly."
The respondents were then asked: "Thinking specifically now about how the police dealt with those protesting at the coronation celebrations, overall do you think they were too lenient on protesters, too harsh, or got the balance about right?"
Just over two-fifths (41 percent) said police "got the balance right," while 30 percent replied that they were "too harsh" and 9 percent "too lenient." Around one-fifth (19 percent) of those asked said they were "not sure."
So far, Buckingham Palace has not commented on the arrests made on coronation day.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more
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