Police have arrested several protesters who entered the ceremonial route on The Mall before the Trooping the Colour ceremony on the first day of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations.
A group of demonstrators were dragged by police out of the path of a military band as they marched along the route at about 10.10am.
Pro-vegan climate and animal rights campaign group Animal Rebellion said 25 of its supporters were involved in the disruption “due to the Crown's inaction on the climate emergency and their continued support for meat, fishing, and dairy, a leading contributor to climate breakdown”.
Some of the protesters managed to sit down in the road before being pulled away by officers.
One of those sitting wore a golden crown around a hat, while the other sat facing the soldiers holding a piece of paper.
Another person walked ahead of the band holding a small poster which read “Reclaim Royal Land” above their head.
Despite the disturbance, the band marched on and continued with the parade as police officers detained members of the group to the side.
Animal Rebellion said on Twitter that “animal rebels” were behind the disturbance.
The group said: “Animal Rebels disrupt the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations demanding that Royal Land is Reclaimed.”
According to its website, Animal Rebellion uses non-violent civil disobedience with the aim of bringing about “a transition to a just and sustainable plant-based food system, to halt mass extinction, alleviate the worst effects of climate breakdown and ensure justice for animals”.
Beau King Houston, one of those taking action, said “The royal family has had decades to lead the way on a just transition to plant-based farming and has failed to do so. This transition is common sense and simple, we all win.
“Seventy-six per cent of currently farmed land could be rewilded and absorb carbon from the atmosphere. This would restore nature, spare billions of animals, and present a solution to the climate emergency, all in one act.”
In August 2021, Animal Rebellion dyed the fountain outside Buckingham Palace red in protest of the use of Crown lands for hunting and animal agriculture.
Robert Gordon, a spokesman for the group, said “These Jubilee celebrations are set to cost the taxpayer tens, if not hundreds, of millions of pounds. All whilst we are struggling through the cost-of-living crisis and families across the country are increasingly reliant on food banks.
“Instead, this obscene amount of money could have been used to provide instant food security and kick start a plant-based future where no child is left hungry or terrified by climate collapse. We must reclaim royal land for this.”
The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were for obstructing the motorway.
The force tweeted: “A number of arrests have been made of people who attempted to enter the ceremonial route in The Mall at approximately 10.10 hrs today.
“The arrests were public order related for motorway obstruction.
“Thank you to the crowd who showed their support by clapping our officers who returned to their post after dealing with the incident swiftly.”
Platinum jubilee celebrations - in pictures
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leads the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon, part of the platinum jubilee celebrations, at Windsor Castle. Reuters -
Fireworks explode above Blackpool Tower to celebrate the jubilee. Reuters -
The 'Tree Of Trees' by designer Thomas Heatherwick at a special ceremony for the lighting of the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace, London. AFP -
Thousands wait for the royal family to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, on the first day of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. AP -
The Trooping the Colour ceremony is carried out at Horse Guards, London. AP -
French President Emmanuel Macron stands next to British ambassador to France Menna Rawlings, after rekindling the flame under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the British queen's platinum jubilee. Reuters -
Francis Mwangi, 13, uses an Oculus virtual reality headset to visit Buckingham Palace virtually during platinum jubilee celebrations in Nyeri, Kenya. Reuters -
The Red Arrows perform a flypast over the Horse Guards parade, London. Trooping The Colour is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army. It has taken place since the mid-17th century. Getty Images -
Prince Louis holds his ears as he stands next to Queen Elizabeth, his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Prince George to watch a special flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony. AFP -
Crowds gather to watch a flypast by the Red Arrows during Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee celebrations. EPA -
Royal fans wear Queen Elizabeth masks during jubilee celebrations. EPA -
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles greet royal well-wishers near Buckingham Palace. Bloomberg -
Spectators watch the RAF flypast on The Mall after the Trooping the Colour parade in London. Getty Images -
The RAF flypast on The Mall to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 1952. Getty Images -
From left, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales , Queen Elizabeth II , the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and the Duke of Cambridge, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the RAF flypast on day one of the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Members of the public fill The Mall ahead of a fly-past over Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour in London. Trooping The Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army that has taken place since the mid-17th century. Getty Images -
Members of the Honourable Artillery Company perform a gun salute during celebrations to mark the platinum jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the Tower of London. Reuters -
The Royal Gun Salute in Cardiff to mark the start of the platinum jubilee weekend. AP -
Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade, central London, on day one of the platinum jubilee weekend celebrations. PA -
Prince Charles being driven to the parade. Getty -
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Trooping the Colour parade. Getty -
Police officers intervene as protesters try to disrupt the ceremony during the queen's platinum Jubilee celebrations on The Mall in London. Reuters -
The Mall is packed for the wekeend's celebrations. PA -
The Kings Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery ride down The Mall on their way to fire the ceremonial gun. AP -
(L-R) Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Louis of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge travel in a horse-drawn carriage during Trooping The Colour. Getty -
An Irish wolfhound leads as soldiers march along The Mall. AP -
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex ride in a carriage as the Royal Procession leaves Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Color ceremony. AP -
The BT tower in central London bears a message to Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
The 206 Battery of the Royal Artillery, the Ulster Gunners, fire a midday commemorative gun salute in honour of the beginning of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations, at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. Reuters -
Sydney Harbour Bridge is illuminated in 'Royal Purple' to mark the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
The 105th Regiment Royal Artillery, The Scottish and Ulster Gunners during the royal gun salute at Edinburgh Castle. PA -
Marching in Horse Guards Parade, central London. Getty -
People gather at The Mall in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. Reuters -
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is driven along The Mall. Huge crowds are expected in the city as the UK marks the jubilee. AFP -
The Band of the Welsh Guards make their way to the Trooping the Colour event in London. AP -
The platinum jubilee marks the 70th anniversary of the queen taking the throne. Reuters -
Jubilant crowds in London. Reuters -
A Buckingham Palace staff member cleans the balcony where the queen is expected to wave to well-wishers. AFP -
A man walks his corgis Chuckles and Bunting down The Mall during the celebrations. Reuters -
Police officers cycle down The Mall. Reuters -
The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery fires field guns at Point Jerningham, to mark the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, in Wellington, New Zealand. AP -
The official platinum jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth, taken at Windsor Castle recently. Photo: Buckingham Palace -
Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sits outside Downing Street, London, adorned in bunting before the platinum jubilee celebrations, in London. AP -
A look-alike of Queen Elizabeth waves at people in London. The queen's platinum jubilee will be celebrated from June 2 to June 5 to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952. EPA -
People walk along The Mall in London, before the start of the Queen's platinum jubilee weekend. AP -
Joseph Afrane, 58, originally from Ghana, lives in Battersea, London, and is planning to attend all the official platinum jubilee events. PA -
Twins Linda Whitfield and Janice Jones, 59, from County Durham, are camping on The Mall to ensure they have a good view of the celebrations. PA -
Members of the public walk through Piccadilly Circus before the platinum jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth. AFP
