Two women arrested after 'climbing barrier' during King's thanksgiving ceremony at St Giles' Cathedral

Two women have been arrested for allegedly climbing a crowd safety barrier on the Royal Mile as the King and Queen received Scotland’s crown jewels.

The women, aged 20 and 21, were arrested for breach of the peace at around 2pm on Wednesday.

It comes as anti-monarchy groups, including members of Republic, gathered to demonstrate outside St Giles’ Cathedral as the King Charles and Queen Camilla received Scotland’s Honours in a thanksgiving ceremony.

Police Scotland previously said it would “enable peaceful protest” during the event.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Two women – aged 20 and 21 – have been arrested in connection with a breach of the peace after allegedly attempting to climb over a crowd safety barrier on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

“Our priority is public safety, balanced against people’s rights #RoyalWeek.”

The King’s first post-coronation visit to Scotland marks the first protests by republicans since he was crowned on May 6.

The campaigners were part of climate activist group This Is Rigged, who claimed in a statement that the women were “unlawfully arrested”.

“Both (of the women) say that they were at the Scottish Coronation to ‘peacefully protest’ and highlight the demands of This Is Rigged,” the organisation said.