LAST Saturday, one of the greatest spectacles this country has seen for 70 years passed off peacefully and without incident.
To a large extent, this was due to the diligence of the Metropolitan Police, who should be thanked.
They were responsible for the safety of not only the King and Queen, but tens of thousands of well-wishers, 4,000 members of the Armed Forces and 250 military horses.
Anti-monarchists, some dressed as fake stewards, were plotting to use rape alarms, loud-hailers and white paint bombs to attack the procession and vandalise monuments.
The potential for carnage was very much in the police’s mind and Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was unapologetic about moving swiftly to neutralise the threat once confirmed.
Almost 60 agitators were arrested under new legislation designed to minimise the kind of disruption caused by, for example, Just Stop Oil protesters.
Most were bailed, with just six released without charge because it was impossible to prove criminal intent beyond all reasonable doubt.
Sir Mark rounded on those who criticised the police for being heavy-handed, saying that the protesters were still able to make their views known peacefully and described the criticism as “ill-informed commentary”.
He added that he was proud of his officers and the crowds were cheering as the arrests were made.
I think we are all tired of these minority groups who seem intent on disrupting our lives without any thought of the consequences.
The Met has had its issues recently, but the majority of officers do their duty, with our consent, often in dangerous circumstances and unarmed.
You only have to look across the Atlantic to realise just how fortunate we are.
The right to protest must be upheld, but so too must the police’s ability to keep us all safe.