Greater police powers to tackle coronation disruption – but Buckingham Palace arrest highlights security concerns
Police have been given greater powers to tackle disruption to the King’s coronation under new laws that come into force today, but the arrest of a man outside Buckingham Palace overnight has highlighted security concerns.
A man was arrested after throwing what is suspected to be shotgun cartridges into palace grounds, the Metropolitan Police said.
A precautionary controlled explosion was carried out outside the palace and the man was held on suspicion of the possession of an offensive weapon, the force added.
Officers said a knife was found on him but he did not possess a gun.
Police officers on horses patrol on Wednesday
The arrest has highlighted concerns, as has an escalating series of road-blocking protests by the Just Stop Oil campaign group.
But police are alert to the potential for a much bigger threat from terrorists who could use the global live television coverage to publicise their aims.
Legislation that comes into force on Wednesday carries up to a year in jail for demonstrators blocking roads, airports and railways.
Anyone locking or gluing themselves to buildings or objects risks six months behind bars.
Police can also stop and search anyone they suspect is planning to cause disruption – one of the powers given royal assent by the King on Tuesday.
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Details of the new laws were outlined in a Home Office letter sent to various protest groups, some of whom reportedly condemned the move as “intimidatory”.
Police will have assembled an intelligence database of likely demonstrators and in the past, ahead of major public events, have visited known individuals to try to ask them about their intentions.
Anti-monarchist Patrick Thelwell, 23, who was fined last year for throwing an egg at the King in York, is urging others to join him at a Coronation Day “Not My King” protest in central London, but has asked demonstrators not to bring eggs.
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Minister warns coronation protesters
It comes as Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said the government is “in no way complacent” about security surrounding the King’s coronation after the arrest outside Buckingham Palace.
He said he was “very proud” of the way the police responded to the incident.
Mr Tugendhat told Kay Burley on Sky News: “I’m very glad to see that the police reacted incredibly quickly, incredibly professionally, to the incident last night.
“We’re in no way complacent. And I’m very, very proud of the response that the police have done.
“The intelligence services, the police and others have been working on this extremely effectively for months.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed neither the King nor Queen Consort were at the palace at the time of the incident.
Scotland Yard said they are not treating the incident as terror-related.
Asked how much security for the coronation would cost the taxpayer, Mr Tugendhat was unable to give a figure.
He said: “It’s very difficult to pull that out as a separate figure for the simple reason that we’ve got an enormous amount of effort going in for a major incident like this in different parts of the country – because there are people getting together in streets, there’s people getting together in gatherings across the country because this is a moment of national celebration.
“What I think is worth looking at, though, is how much this is bringing to the country in terms of the number of tourists who are coming, the amount of attention that is coming and indeed, I hope, the amount of business that will be generated by heads of state and government and other business people coming to the UK at this time to see what we offer.”
Pressed on figures of at least £100m just for security, Mr Tugendhat said: “It’s not a figure that I recognise, sorry.”
He said: “Forgive me for not being able to break it down at this point.
“The reason I don’t want to do that is because there’s police forces around the country who are doing different things and answer slightly differently through their own different structures.”
He said he did not have a number for how much it was costing the Metropolitan Police, but added: “What I’ve been doing is making sure that the Met are ready, and that means preparing with them and the National Crime Agency and the intelligence services to make sure they have all the resources they need.
“We have spent an awful lot of time over the last several months preparing for any number of different threats because the reality is this is a very complex event.”
The Queen has withdrawn from attending the funeral of the Duchess of Kent while she recovers from illness.
Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday that Queen Camilla is recovering from acute sinusitis.
Camilla, 78, was due to join the King and other members of the Royal Family at the funeral at Westminster Cathedral this afternoon.
The withdrawal raises questions over her attendance for US President Donald Trump‘s state visit, which begins at Windsor on Wednesday.
The visit is being hosted by King Charles.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were due to attend the funeral together. Pic: PA
But the Queen is hopeful she will recover in time to attend all royal elements of Mr Trump’s trip, which includes a lavish state banquet.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis.”
The Duke of Kent has been informed and is said to fully understand the decision, wishing her a speedy recovery.
The Queen had travelled down from Scotland this morning and is currently travelling to Windsor, where she will rest.
“Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family.”
The requiem mass, which is a Catholic funeral, is the first to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history.
Royals in attendance included Prince William, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Pics: PA
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, were also seen approaching Westminster Cathedral for the service.
Pic: PA
Former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart and actresses Rula Lenska and Dame Maureen Lipman were also among the mourners.
Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who became the oldest living member of the Royal Family when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, died at the age of 92 on 4 September.
There has been no expense spared for the UK’s biggest security operation since the King’s coronation.
This time the occasion is both royal and presidential. It is vast and honestly feels, well, American.
The operation has been led by Thames Valley Police, but officers from across the UK will also play a part in the visit.
Windsor is a sea of fluorescent yellow jackets and black and white flat caps. Officers are swarming the town and over the next couple of days will be sending drones into crowds, conducting boat patrols and deploying mounted units in and around the wider area.
Authorities have planned for every eventuality but would not expand on whether the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk had led them to heighten security measures.
Officers patrolling the River Thames
Police on horses in Windsor. Pic: Reuters
The assassination of the US activist may have intensified consideration about potential threats, but authorities have had extensive security plans in the works for months.
Operational firearms commander Sergeant Dan Hatfield explained that the police presence will be heightened – and every plan has been worked on in conjunction with the Secret Service.
“The residents of Windsor and visitors to Windsor are used to seeing a fairly high police presence, including armed police,” Sgt Hatfield said.
“However, for this state visit, they will see an increase in those numbers. Fortunately, I’ve had experience working with the Americans with all the Secret Service. We have a really good working relationship and work fairly harmoniously together to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
A member of the Blues and Royals prepares for a first ride-out ahead of rehearsals for the state visit. Pic: PA
Whether in the air, on the ground or on the water, safety is paramount.
On a visit with the Thames Valley marine unit, Sky News witnessed what their 24-hour patrol of the waterways would look like.
A section of the River Thames that borders the Castle will be closed off during the visit.
Sergeant Lyn Smith, head of the joint operations marine unit between the Thames Valley and Hampshire forces, said this is the biggest event she has worked on.
“The team is highly trained, we are ready for anything that will happen on or around the water,” she said.
“The marine support unit are going to be doing high visibility patrols, some searching, some specialist searching in and around the area, and working with our partners in the Environment Agency to deliver a safe event.
“Similar to President Macron’s state visit, we are still providing capability on the water, it’s just on a larger scale for us.”
Police dog Jack, from Thames Valley Police, has been carrying out security searches. Pic: PA
Security fences along the Long Walk near Windsor Castle. Pic: Reuters
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Notably, for the first time in any state visit or royal occasion, the section of the Long Walk leading up to the castle has been cordoned off with large white barricades erected to shield the residence from view.
Airspace over the town is also restricted for the duration of the visit, enforced using police drones and helicopters.
Vehicles will be standing by close to patrol officers on the ground, holding their ballistic helmets, ballistic vests and shields if an incident occurs.
Thousands of protesters plan to descend on Windsor and central London during the visit to demonstrate against the president’s trip.
A rally in central London on Wednesday is expected to draw the largest crowd, but protesters from the Stop Trump Coalition have now confirmed plans for a Tuesday event too.
A royal welcome may not be extended by all – but many will be hoping they won’t drown out the pomp for the president.
Google is set to invest £5bn in the UK in the next two years, to support growing demands for AI services.
The announcement, which comes as Google opens a new data centre in Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, is expected to contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs, the US tech giant said.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves described it as a “vote of confidence” in the UK economy.
The news comes hours before Donald Trump lands in the UK for a state visit at which he and Sir Keir Starmer are widely expected to sign a new UK-US tech deal.
It also follows reports that ChatGPT parent firm OpenAI, and Nvidia, will also unveil billions of dollars’ worth of investment into UK data centres this week.
The chancellor said the investment would boost research and development, capital expenditure and engineering.
However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has criticised the proposed deal as a “Silicon Valley stitch-up”, and has demanded that the government put it to a vote in parliament.
He said: “I am really concerned the government is going to agree to a Silicon Valley stitch-up that hands tax cuts to tech billionaires while undermining protections for our children online.”
Sir Ed added: “Parents want protections for children online to be kept in place, not traded away in a backroom deal with tech barons.
“We can’t let the government sign up to a deal that benefits Elon Musk at the expense of the British people.”
Sir Ed Davey
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Google has confirmed it will invest £5bn into capital expenditure, research and development, and related engineering over the next two years, which will include “pioneering” AI research in science and healthcare through its DeepMind operation.
The Silicon Valley firm said the investment will help the UK grow its AI economy and contribute to technological breakthroughs, improvements in cybersecurity and job creation.
Google predicted the investment will help to create 8,250 jobs annually at UK businesses.
DeepMind co-founder and chief executive Demis Hassabis said: “We founded DeepMind in London because we knew the UK had the potential and talent to be a global hub for pioneering AI.
“The UK has a rich history of being at the forefront of technology – from Lovelace to Babbage to Turing – so it’s fitting that we’re continuing that legacy by investing in the next wave of innovation and scientific discovery in the UK.”
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