Edinburgh procession: Heckler shouts ‘Andrew, you’re a sick old man’ as Duke of York walks with Queen’s coffin
Inews.Co.UkSep 12, 2022
On Mon., UK's Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland - to St Giles's Cathedral in Edinburgh. The monarch's children walked behind her hearse, before attending a service of thanksgiving for her life.
During the procession, a 22-year-old man heckled Andrew, the Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal titles last year over his relationship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The protester was reportedly arrested.
While the timing and place may be inappropriate, the right to protest is crucial to democracy. By arresting protesters exercising their free speech, British authorities are violating people's rights. Modern, progressive societies benefit from multiple points of views, which are allowed to be expressed peacefully, as was done in this case.
The procession of a late monarch is not the time or place for this type of disrespectful conduct. While the right to protest is certainly fundamental to a democratic society, disturbing the peace is a form of disorderly conduct and legally punishable by as much as 12 months in prison. This official mourning period should be respected as a time for personal grief.
There's a 67% chance that at least 1% of Great Britain will be under a monarchy by 2075, according to the Metaculus prediction community.