During a walkabout at Lichfield Cathedral today, the King was confronted by a protestor demanding answers about his disgraced brother Prince Andrew
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Moment King Charles confronted by heckler over Prince Andrew
King Charles was confronted by a furious protestor demanding answers on Prince Andrew as he greeted wellwishers on a royal visit today. The King travelled to the West Midlands this morning, where he visited Lichfield Cathedral for a special service.
His outing comes as the drama surrounding his disgraced brother Andrew continues, with reports he is poised to leave Royal Lodge amid the fury over his ‘peppercorn’ rent deal after relinquishing his royal titles. The Palace is said to be in talks with Andrew over where he should live if Charles can finally get him to agree to leave his 30-room Windsor mansion. He has also given up his titles after more revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
And during a walkabout outside the Cathedral today, one protestor shouted: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” as the King passed by. However, it seems the crowd was overwhelmingly supportive of the King as chants of ‘God Save The King’ drowned out the protestor.
The man was then pulled away and out of sight of the King by someone in the crowd following the incident, as the royal walked away to greet people waiting on the other side of the barriers.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said he believed the heckler was “one of our own members but doing their own thing, which we fully support”.
He said: “The royals need to be challenged, and if the politicians won’t do the job and the police won’t investigate, then more and more members of the public will be asking tough questions.”
It comes as Charles attempted to brush off any family drama as he received a rapturous welcome on a royal visit today. But today, Charles left this aside as he was cheered by thousands of well-wishers as he visited the Cathedral.
Crowds, which included fans from Italy and the US, waited outside for hours to catch a glimpse of the King after he met community groups and volunteers inside the cathedral. One member of the public told the King it was “amazing” to be able to meet him as he had been waiting to see him since 5am.
Some members of the crowd waved flags, held posters and photographs as the royal spent time shaking hands and speaking to people during his visit to the city.
Inside the cathedral, Charles was serenaded by a choir as he made time to speak to members of dozens of community groups, including representatives from the city’s foodbank and Liberty Jamboree, which supports young people with learning or physical disabilities, and volunteers from the cathedral’s embroiderers.
Much of the activity was centred around the Table for the Nation, which was crafted from 5,000-year-old Fenland black oak and originally created for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee year as a symbol of unity and hope.
The King’s visit to Lichfield came before a trip to the nearby National Memorial Arboretum, for a dedication ceremony of the LGBT+ armed forces memorial, the UK’s first national memorial commemorating LGBT+ people who have served and continue to serve in the military.
LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride said the sculpture represents a “powerful step forward in recognising and honouring the service and sacrifices” of the LGBT+ armed forces community after their historic mistreatment.
Charles was joined by dozens of serving and former members of the armed forces at the dedication of the memorial, titled An Opened Letter, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Monday.
He then talked to a number of those who had their military careers cut short before the ban was lifted in 2000, who told of the humiliation and vilification they have lived with since.
Thousands of people were investigated, discharged, or forced to leave their careers because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, and faced lifelong consequences, including being vilified by family and friends, and losing access to their military pensions.
Brigadier Clare Phillips spoke at the dedication ceremony, telling the 300 guests: “I am a gay woman who has served in the British Army for 30 years. For hundreds of LGBT veterans, their experiences have been catastrophic – their lives and careers shattered.
“For the serving community, today’s unveiling of this incredible memorial is about remembering that we stand on the shoulders of giants – those people who fought discrimination and persecution so we can now serve openly and proudly. It is about being able to say to our veterans, you belong and you always did.”
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