Royal wedding 2018 latest: Anti-monarchy group seeks police reassurance on protests in Windsor

Anti-monarchy campaigners have asked for reassurance from police that protesters on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding day will not be arrested.

Republic pressure group wants to see the monarchy abolished and the Queen replaced with an elected, democratic head of state and work to build public support for a transition to a republic.

Its chief executive, Graham Smith, wrote to Chief Constable Francis Habgood, of Thames Valley Police, to confirm officers will not obstruct protesters carrying placards or banners in the grounds outside St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19.

He said that the right to protest is a “fundamental part of British life”, writing in the email: “The monarchy is a contested institution and, while this is a private wedding, all major royal events such as this are used as PR for the monarchy.

"It is therefore vital that the usual procedures and policies for allowing and facilitating peaceful protest remain in place."

Mr Smith then asked: "Can you please reassure me that anyone found carrying a placard or banner or appearing to be heading to the site of the wedding to protest will not be arrested or obstructed, unless there is a genuine risk to public safety?”

He said that any possible attempts to deny the protests, which are “in order to serve the interests of the royal household,” would be “whole inappropriate.”

"Your assurance that a Royal wedding is no grounds for banning peaceful protest will be welcomed, not just by protesters or republicans, but by millions of people who believe the right to protest is a fundamental part of British life," Mr Smith added.

Mr Smith told the Standard that Republic is not planning any protests on the Royal wedding day, stating: "We’re not planning to protest, we’ll be hosting the international republican conference as part of an Alliance of European Republican Movements event.

"However we are aware of reports that some people will protest and we want to ensure they’re allowed to do so. The police in the past have behaved inappropriately around major royal events, harassing and detaining protesters. The royals are also protected from protesters by a ban on protests outside Buckingham Palace. We think the same rules of protest should apply to the royals as they do to politicians."

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that any planned protests by anti-monarchists on the wedding day would not do their cause any good.

He told the Standard: “A wedding is traditionally a day of rejoicing and it is an extraordinary idea that placard waving Republicans would do their cause any good by doing this.

“The Royal family are covering the costs of the wedding itself but any country would ensure that security around their first family was as comprehensive as possible. It is only reasonable for the taxpayer to pay for this.

“The idea is obviously to be on camera since the media interest in the wedding is so overwhelming because the monarchy is so popular and so respected nationally and internationally.”

Mr Fitzwilliams said that any attempts to protest on the big day would be "desperate", adding: “There has always been a core, almost invariably under 20 per cent in the polls, who want a republic.

"To protest on the wedding day itself, however, is a sign that it’s a minority cause which is getting pretty desperate.”

The Royal wedding is one of the largest public events policed by Thames Valley and in the run-up more police will be seen on patrol in Windsor, from armed officers to those with dogs and even mounted police.

The most expensive charge on the day will be the security costs, which will amount to approximately £30million.

It is believed that besides the usual snipers on every rooftop and undercover police on the streets, the wedding will be fitted with the latest military technology, including a British counter-UAV system, which will cost at least £1million.