Crowds of local school children waved Union Jack flags while anti-monarchy protesters chanted "not our king" to meet the arrival of King Charles III.
The King and Queen Consort Camilla are in Liverpool today ahead of this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The Royals revealed the competition's staging at the M&S Bank Arena earlier this afternoon and met Mae Muller and the hosts of Eurovision: Ukrainian host, Julia Sanina, Scott Mills, Rylan Clark and Hannah Waddingham.
Their Majesties also attended Liverpool Central Library to officially mark the Library's twinning with Ukraine's first public library, the Regional Scientific Library in Odesa. The pair were greeted at the top of William Brown Street by brass band EuroBrass with Resonate Liverpool Music Hub and Liverpool's 100 Voices Choir.
READ MORE: Live updates as King Charles visits Liverpool ahead of Eurovision Song Contest
Young children from local schools, as well as hundreds of Royalists cheered the King and Queen Consort as they arrived at the library. Republican campaigners from anti-monarchy group Republic also gathered opposite the library to meet the Royals' arrival.
The group said the protest here in Liverpool is part of a wave of demonstrations against the monarchy. Previous protests, branded "not my king", have already been held in Milton Keynes, London and York.
Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, said: "It’s time our country was represented by someone who had to work for that privilege, someone who doesn’t rip off the taxpayer and someone who doesn’t demand deference. It’s time we had an elected head of state."
When King Charles III arrived at the library the protesters launched into chants of "not our king" and "feed the poor". The protesters were identifiable by their yellow badges and hoodie jumpers and large "not our king" placards and banners.
Their chants were largely drowned out by the cheering crowd who welcomed the arrival of the monarch here on Merseyside. Dozens of royal supporters counter-chanted "he's our king" and "long live the king" in response to the protesters.
The royals passed through the crowd and shook hands with several onlookers. One woman, who shook hands with the King, told the ECHO: "I'm not washing my hand today", while a second said "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time".
There was a significant police presence at Liverpool Central Library to meet the arrival of the royals. Several officers filmed the protesters, but the visit to the library passed without incident.
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