Throughout the day of the Coronation, reports of arrests and detentions on the Mall and in Trafalgar Square, as well as further across the city, continued to drip through.
In statement released at 5pm, the Metropolitan police reported that they had made 52 arrests for offences including affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Commander Karen Findlay, who led the policing operation, stated: "We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning. Protest is lawful and it can be disruptive. We have policed numerous protests without intervention in the build-up to the Coronation, and during it. Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.
“This depends on the context. The Coronation is a once in a generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment. A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.”
As the protest referred to in Findlay's statement wrapped up, its organisers remained in police custody, only being released late into the evening. The following morning Smith released a statement on Republic's website:
"Yesterday, as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest, a number of Republic's team were arrested and detained for the rest of the day.
These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country. Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame. They showed no judgement, no common sense and no basic decency. This was a heavy handed action which had the appearance of a pre-determined arrest that would have occurred regardless of the evidence or our actions."
As the fallout continues, questions weigh heavy around the conduct of the Metropolitan police force, as well the health of a democracy in which basic dissent is unable to be expressed.
It was, in many ways, a day of contradictions. A lavish display of wealth and privilege on the streets of a city where millions are in poverty. An outpouring of joy and excitement playing out next to brutal repression of basic human rights. The celebration of an ancient and undemocratic form of government by champions of democracy. Huck photography Theo McInness was on site to capture all that and more.