Prince Andrew has long been shy with the public since allegations of abuse against him were made public. But the death of Queen Elizabeth II has now brought him back into the limelight. He would play a pivotal role at Monday’s state funeral, as he was considered the “Queen’s favorite son”. But the majority of Brits would like to see Andrews banned permanently. And the grieving royal felt that personally. During a funeral procession with the Queen’s coffin, the 62-year-old was loudly insulted by a young Scotsman. The police had to intervene.
“Andrew, you’re a sick old man,” shouted the young man, dressed in an Australian rules football shirt. But other onlookers probably didn’t think that was appropriate and wrestled the demonstrators down with the help of a police officer. “That’s disgusting. I didn’t do anything,” the young man was heard shouting moments later when the police took him away. A woman standing nearby urged officers to release the detainee. But her voice was drowned out when suddenly “God save the king” was shouted.
Before the bodies of the late monarch were transferred from Edinburgh to London on Tuesday, thousands of Scots were able to bid farewell to Elizabeth II in a funeral procession on Monday. King Charles III led a procession with the coffin on foot in the old town of the Scottish capital on Monday. His siblings Princess Anne (72), Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (58) also marched behind the hearse. The procession led from the royal residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to St Giles Cathedral, just over a kilometer away, where a service was being held. The closed coffin must remain there for about 24 hours, so that the population can continue to say goodbye.
“Insult to Democracy”
While much of the British population is still in mourning mode, there are some compatriots who do not understand the commotion surrounding the death of the Queen or the monarchy as a whole. The Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, called for a “national debate” about the future of the monarchy two days after the queen’s death. “The proclamation of a new king is an affront to democracy,” Republican spokesman Graham Smith said in a statement. According to Republic, more than a quarter of the British are now in favor of abolishing the monarchy.
One of them is Marc Tuft, a 64-year-old gym teacher from Abbey Wood, working-class London. “I respect the Queen’s life’s work and recognize that she is very popular and revered,” he said in an interview with the German news agency. He doesn’t feel personally affected by her death. “It’s like a soap opera,” he says. While some people’s feelings are genuine, he believes that much of what you see on television is a PR campaign. However, Tuft said people who want to talk about the abolition of the monarchy are currently not getting a chance to speak. That will be interpreted as disrespectful. But he thinks there will soon be critical voices.
Protests against the monarchy
In fact, the expressions of displeasure on the sidelines of the funeral procession were not the only ones. On social media in particular, the footage of people being arrested for demonstrating against the monarchy is piling up (see also the video above). Criticism of the monarchy in the former Caribbean colonies is much more than a minority view. Immediately after the death of the Queen, the head of government of Antigua and Barbuda announced a referendum on secession from the British royal family within three years.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
