Violence has broken out at a St George’s Day event in central London.

The Metropolitan Police released footage showing a group of men – some draped in St George’s flags – clashing with officers in Whitehall.

At one point in the footage, a man appears to hit a police horse with an umbrella.

The Met had earlier warned that those attending the event were expected to include “far right groups and groups linked to football clubs travelling from elsewhere in the UK”.

Shortly after 2pm, the force posted on X: “The event is not due to start for an hour and regrettably officers are already dealing with disorder.”

“There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace. This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.

“When officers formed a cordon and asked the group to turn round, they reacted by violently forcing their way through. Mounted officers intervened with horses to restore the cordon.”

The disorder was broken up and the Met said there have been “no further incidents since that altercation”.

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The Met earlier said an order was in force in Lambeth and Westminster giving officers the power to require the removal of face coverings after it said several people were seen to be wearing masks.

It added a Section 60 order was issued allowing police to ramp up stop and searches.

St George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April every year, honouring the patron saint of England.

A photo of Prince Louis taken by the Princess of Wales has been released to mark the young royal’s sixth birthday.

The image of a smiling Louis was shared on social media along with the caption: “Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.”

The photo was taken in the last few days in Windsor and is understood to be unedited.

It is understood William and Kate released the image as a way to thank those who sent good wishes while also protecting their privacy.

The same process – a deviation from the usual issuing of the pictures to the press in advance under an embargo – is expected to be followed for Princess Charlotte’s birthday in May.

The change in process is understood to be due to the unprecedented time the family is experiencing.

The past few months have been an eventful period for the family due to Kate and the King’s cancer diagnoses.

The Princess of Wales announced in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

Louis, meanwhile, was last seen in public on Christmas Day when the Royal Family made their traditional festive appearance on the King’s Sandringham Estate to walk to church.

The release of the photograph comes after Louis’ father, Prince William, resumed royal duties last week in his first public engagement since Kate’s cancer announcement.

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The prince visited a food distribution charity, Surplus to Supper, in Surrey, where he saw how extra food from across the local area was redistributed to small community organisations.

Photos showed him getting busy in the kitchen at the charity’s hub in Sunbury Cricket Club as he made chilli con carne and chopped ingredients under the supervision of head chef Mario Confait.

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The 41-year-old heir to the throne was also pictured in a hi-vis vest joining volunteers in loading prepared meals into delivery vans.

The Prince of Wales then headed to Hanworth youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation’s deliveries and unloaded the crates.

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Earlier this month, William and his eldest son Prince George attended an Aston Villa football game together, in their first public outing since Kate’s cancer announcement.

William, Kate and their three children missed the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, following the news, despite attending last year.

The King has recognised the public service of his family in a new list of honours, including creating a new role for the Princess of Wales.

King Charles has thanked his daughter-in-law, in a way that only royals can, by making her the Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.

The palace say this is a new appointment to the Order.

Royal watchers will see it as a significant move by the King as it’s the first time a member of the Royal Family has ever been appointed to the Companions of Honour.

It was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.

The monarch has also appointed Queen Camilla to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It was a role fulfilled in the past by Prince Philip.

The Order honours a broad cross-section of society, both military and civilian.

Meanwhile Prince William has been presented with a title held by his father, until he became King in 2022, becoming Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

The order was established by King George I in 1725 but is believed to date back as far as the eighth century, recognising members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.

The new appointments come at a time when the King has relied on his family for more support in his duties since his cancer diagnosis.

In new appointments to the Order of the Garter, which are traditionally announced on St George’s Day, The Duchess of Gloucester has been made a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

She is joined by composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber who is made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, along with Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, and Lord Kakkar, known for his services to healthcare.

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain.

Each year, it is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.