Man arrested after ‘egg thrown at King Charles’ in Luton

A man has been arrested after an egg was allegedly thrown in the direction of King Charles in Luton.

The man in his 20s was held on suspicion of common assault following the incident during a walkabout by the King in the town centre on Tuesday.

Bedfordshire Police said the suspect is currently in custody for questioning after being arrested in St George's Square.

Charles had been temporarily steered away from the crowds outside Luton Town Hall by his security staff shortly after arriving.

He then resumed shaking hands with members of the public after being moved to a different area.

It comes less than a month after Charles, 74, was pelted with four eggs in York by a protester shouting “this country was built on the blood of slaves”.

Charles was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Susan Lousada, and the mayor of Luton, Councillor Sameera Saleem, on arrival at the town hall in Luton before meeting local groups and members of the public.

The King looked relaxed as he met members of the public during his visit to Luton.

Charles chatted to dozens of people at the Town Hall and the newly built Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

The King, who had a plaster on his left thumb, removed his shoes and put on a Ramaal headscarf in the Sikh temple, where he made a namaste gesture as he greeted people.

He bowed in front of the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, and sat cross-legged on the floor, wearing an orange scarf over his suit, before being invited to unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the Gurdwara.

The plaque included Tuesday's date, and Charles joked that it was a good job he "turned up on the right day".

During his visit to the Gurdwara he met women in the kitchen who cook for hundreds of people every day, and marvelled at their work with dough.

"Isn't it wonderful how they inflate?" he said, asking if there is a "secret" to the method.

Earlier, many of those who greeted Charles at the Town Hall wished him a "Merry Christmas" and some had taken presents to give to him.