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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
John Crace

Makes you proud to be British, banging people up. God save the king

Protesters with banners saying 'not my king' and 'God save the king Pele' and 'This country is ours'
A few people got thrown in the nick for the best part of a day? Get over yourself. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian

Move along. Nothing to see here. Of course you have a right to peaceful protest. Just as I have a right to arrest you if I feel like it. So it would be a good idea for you to move quietly behind this grandstand so that the BBC cameras can’t film you. Not that they would. They know their place. Besides, they will never do another royal event if they do. So move along quietly. Is that a Velcro fastener on your jacket? A belt round your waist? Planning to lock on, are we? Then you’re nicked. God save the king.

It had all been just a bit of a coincidence. One of those things. You know how it is. You rush through a new Public Order Act and then suddenly find you’ve got a hastily arranged once in a lifetime (TM) – well maybe twice in a lifetime (TM) – coronation to police. God save the king.

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