Prince Andrew heckler will not face court

A man charged for heckling Prince Andrew as he walked behind the Queen's coffin in Edinburgh will not face court, prosecutors have said.

The 22-year-old was arrested and charged with breach of the peace after shouting at the Duke of York on the Royal Mile on 12 September.

All the Queen's children, including the King, were walking behind her coffin when the man shouted: "Andrew, you're a sick old man."

He was removed from the crowd and detained by police.

The Crown Office has said the case has been dealt with "by way of an offer of an alternative to prosecution".

A spokesman said: "The procurator fiscal received a report concerning a 22-year-old male in connection with an alleged incident on September 12, 2022.

"After full and careful consideration of all facts and circumstances, the case was dealt with by way of an offer of an alternative to prosecution."

Alternatives to prosecution can involve warnings, work orders, fines and compensation orders.

The Crown Office did not disclose what alternative was used in this case.

Prosecutors added that no action would be taken at this time against a 22-year-old woman who held an anti-monarchy sign ahead of the accession proclamation of King Charles III in Edinburgh.

She was arrested outside St Giles' Cathedral on 11 September.

The Crown Office said: "The procurator fiscal received a report relating to a 22-year-old female and an incident said to have occurred on September 11, 2022.

"After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, the procurator fiscal decided that there should be no proceedings taken at this time.

"The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future if it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so."