Watch Edinburgh Castle 'Seized' by Protesters Who Cite Magna Carta to 'Claim Power Back'
08:16 GMT 18.08.2021 (Updated: 15:15 GMT 28.05.2023)
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Scotland’s key landmark was purportedly “seized” on Tuesday by a group of some 20 to 30 people, who entered the castle, refusing to pay a ticket fee.
Clips are making the rounds on social media showing a group of people occupying the grounds of Edinburg Castle on 17 August while proclaiming that they have taken “their building back”.
“We are sovereign. We are free. That belongs to the people of Scotland. We have been lied to all our lives. And it’s time. Enough is enough,” a woman can be heard saying in the video as castle staffers and policemen stand nearby, visibly confused.
You might have seen that some sovereign patriots tried to 'take back' Edinburgh Castle. This was all above board of course, because they had letters and they put someone on notice.
— Ally Mc Culladgh (@culladgh) August 17, 2021
Sounds familiar..
Thoughts are with the police and staff who looked befuddled#edinburghcastle pic.twitter.com/9sikqj8MyF
According to the Guardian, the development took place on Tuesday at about 5.45 pm near the entrance to the Museum of The Royal Regiment for Scotland. A group of some 20 people entered the premises, saying that they'd “seized” the place. Edinburgh Live reports that the group consisted of some 30 people, as visitors were evacuated from the scene and police officers were called upon to deal with the demonstrators.
In a clip that was shared through Facebook Live, the rioters can be heard telling police officers that it “was not a protest” but a “lawful” procedure to take the castle back following “article 61 of the Magna Carta”.
“We have had enough. The people of Scotland have had enough and today we claim our power back,” the woman goes on.
"We're waiting to restore the rule of law. We're doing this peacefully and we're doing this lawfully,” she told the Scottish policemen as they calmly reply “okay” and “no worries at all” to her passionate calls.
Around 20 sovereign citizen activists attempted to "seize" Edinburgh Castle today to "restore common law", citing Article 61 of Magna Carta.
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) August 18, 2021
One of the activists told police officers they had had enough of "fake acts and statues", which she said were "made up by paedophiles". pic.twitter.com/iu0zn1d6J9
It’s not clear how the standoff was resolved in the end but a Police Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland spokespeople confirmed that the incident took place on Tuesday.
“A group of around 20 individuals entered Edinburgh Castle this evening [17 August] without payment. After refusing requests to leave the premises Police Scotland were called to the site and are dealing with the matter,” Historic Environment Scotland’s spokesperson said.
Cannae believe I'm living through the 24th siege on Edinburgh Castle in its history. What a time to be alive.
— Jack Capener (@jack_capener) August 17, 2021
The Magna Carta, a royal charter of rights signed into law by King John of England in 1215, predated the Act of Union which united Scotland and England into one kingdom. This means that it never originally applied to Scotland.
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