I attended a royal event in Scotland filled with anti-monarchy protesters — it shows the UK isn't so united in its support for the king

• I attended King Charles' coronation celebrations in Edinburgh that was filled with protestors.
• Unlike in London, I have always noticed less enthusiasm for the British monarch in Scotland.
• This event showed that the UK isn't so united in its support for the king.

King Charles was in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 5 for a royal engagement to commemorate his coronation.

But it was the anti-monarchy protestors at the event who were treated like royalty.

Although Charles' official coronation was held in London in May, the king was presented with the Honours of Scotland — the Scottish crown jewels — in a ceremony at St Giles' Cathedral last week. 

I arrived outside the cathedral around two hours before the event was due to begin. The street was already packed with hundreds of protesters from Republic, a group that's campaigning to have the British monarchy abolished in favor of an elected head of state. Similar to Charles' role, an elected head of state would represent the UK independently of its politicians, according to Republic's website. 

Anti-monarchy protesters appear to be treated differently in Scotland 

Unlike some royal engagements in England where I have witnessed protesters being booed, heckled, or arrested, the protesters in Scotland appeared to be treated with respect.

Members of the public gathered to watch as Graham Smith, the CEO and founder of Republic, chanted from a megaphone: "Not my king!" 

There were multiple reporters and camera crews interviewing Smith's colleagues. From what I could see, there seemed to be more interest in the protest than the event itself in the hours leading up to Charles' arrival. 

Taking a break from his megaphone, Smith told me he notices "a different attitude" to anti-monarchy protesters in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK. 

Smith was arrested in London on the day of Charles' coronation in May, and was one of 64 people police detained at the event, according to a Sky News report from May.

In an interview with the UK's Channel 4 at the time, Smith said he and other protesters were arrested on suspicion of "conspiracy to breach the peace" and were detained for at least 16 hours, according to a video obtained by The Independent. Smith told Channel 4 that Republic had conversations with the Metropolitan Police about its plans for a "peaceful protest" for four months before the coronation and that police initially had "no concerns."

Days later, on May 9, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police released a statement expressing "regret" over the arrests, as an investigation was unable to prove that the protesters had intent to disrupt the event, Sky News reported. The statement added that the protesters were released with their bail canceled and that "no further action will be taken."

When I met Smith in Edinburgh, he told me he's suing the Metropolitan Police over its response to the protests at Charles' coronation, adding that it's a "slow process" and that his lawyers are in the process of writing legal letters to the police.

In contrast, Smith said his group's experience with the Scottish police had been "really good so far" and that the authorities "let us get on with" the protest.

As someone who was born and raised in Scotland, this wasn't surprising to me. I have personally witnessed the indifference many of my peers have toward the monarchy.

And for as long as I can remember, Scotland's support for the monarchy has been lower than England's. Only 37% of adults in Scotland said they supported the monarchy in a poll of over 2,000 people conducted in April by market research firm Savanta for the UK broadcaster ITV; in comparison, 54% of adults polled in England said they support the institution. 

There was also an independence rally in Glasgow on the same day as Charles' coronation in May, which event organizers said was attended by an estimated 20,000 people, The Scotsman reported at the time.

Many people in the crowd were indifferent to King Charles

By the time Charles arrived at the event in Edinburgh, hundreds of people had lined the city's Royal Mile. Security had cordoned off the street and access to the cathedral with barriers.

Of course, not everyone there was against the monarchy. I spotted a handful of royalists holding signs that read: "Charles King of Scots."

When I asked two men that were part of this counter-protest why they supported the king, they said it was because of their religion; they said they were raised as Protestants and acknowledged Charles in his role as "defender of the faith."

Nonetheless, there were also many people in the crowd who seemingly wanted nothing to do with the event.

I overheard multiple people ask security if they could let them through the barriers as they had to get to their job, a restaurant reservation, or to their apartment. 

There seemed to be a mood of irritation in the air, even among some of the royal fans. I noticed that security wouldn't let people pass the barriers to cross the road until around 20 minutes after the king had entered the cathedral. 

"We should just go home and watch it on the BBC," I overheard one woman tell her husband.

"Why does he need a second coronation anyway?" I heard another person ask a friend, while one woman called her boss to inform them she was "stuck behind the king." 

Seeing photos of the massive crowds at royal engagements in London, it can be easy to forget that not everyone in the UK is enthusiastic about the royals.

The royal family's affection for Scotland has been apparent for many years, however. Before her death in 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II spent every summer vacationing at her holiday home, Balmoral Castle, in the Scottish Highlands. And Charles often wears a kilt during his visits, as his father Prince Philip did before his death.

The royal family clearly loves my country — but many Scots don't love them back.

Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.