KING Charles has been accused of “avoiding scrutiny” by visiting mostly rural parts of Scotland and avoiding potential republican protests, campaigners say.
The monarch’s mini-coronation ceremony in Edinburgh on July 5 was marred by protesters shouting “Not My King” while Charles was given the Honours of Scotland.
Since his official coronation in Westminster Abbey on May 6, Charles has visited Scotland on a number of occasions, but kept his visits to the east coast.
The King is currently on his first retreat to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire as head of state and has been spotted at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, Aberdeenshire, and Tomintoul in Banffshire, the highest village in the highlands.
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He has previously been on official visits to John O’Groats, the most northern point of mainland Scotland, Bo’ness in Falkirk and Selkirk and Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.
Charles’s coronation in London and subsequent event in Edinburgh saw the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters.
Campaigners say that Charles’s visits to Scotland so far show that he is “absolutely avoiding scrutiny” and a strong republican sentiment in Scotland.
Tristan Gray, convener of Scottish anti-monarchy group Our Republic, said: “During Charles' ‘Scottish Coronation’ we repeatedly pointed out that the secretive nature of his plans seemed designed to prevent any kind of organised response to what he wanted to experience - an unquestioning and unchallenged acceptance of his rule over Scots.
“After we managed to organise despite the monarchy's best attempts to dodge protests this now seems to have become a feature of his monarchy.
“Claiming to rule over Scots but keeping his distance from us, just in case the increasing number who have no faith in his legitimacy becomes apparent.
“This is absolutely a case of avoiding scrutiny and areas with more republicans.
“This is a clear reminder of what the monarchy is and always has been, an undemocratic institution that exists because of the entitlement and lack of accountability of its members.
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“This would and could never happen with a democratically elected head of state.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
During King Charles’s coronation in Westminster, republican protesters were pictured with placards and shouting “Not my King” during the ceremony.
The Metropolitan Police apprehended and arrested numerous campaigners, including Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, in the morning ahead of the coronation.
Campaigners including Smith had their details taken by officers and were pictured beside a rental van full of hundreds of anti-monarchy placards during their arrests.
Environmental campaigners Just Stop Oil said that approximately 13 protesters were arrested on the Mall ahead of the event.
Later during the mini-coronation in Edinburgh on July 5, chants of "Not my King" could be heard live on the BBC during the event.
A number of protesters outside of St Giles Cathedral were also arrested on that day, with republican campaigners raising their concerns over the move by officers.
We previously told how analysis from campaign group Republic revealed that Charles carried out less than seven weeks of full-time work in the last year.
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