The protester who was arrested by police today for throwing eggs at King Charles and the Queen Consort in York is an Extinction Rebellion activist who once stood as a Green Party candidate, MailOnline can reveal. 

Patrick Thelwell was bundled to the ground by four police officers while screaming ‘this country was built on the blood of slaves’. Meanwhile, onlookers shouted ‘God save the King’ and ‘shame on you’.

Footage shows the volley of eggs flying past His Majesty and breaking on the ground beside him as he was being greeted by city leaders. Charles briefly looked around to see the broken eggs, but otherwise barely reacted. 

In an online biography, Thelwell boasts of his long involvement in left wing politics, which began in 2015 when he campaigned to oust Tory MP Esther McVey from her seat on Merseyside due to her views on benefits.    

He has been president of the University of York gardening society and, on a blog where he regularly writes about climate change, says he is preparing to study for a PhD in Interdisciplinary Global Development. 

Thelwell stood as a Green Party candidate in the 2019 local elections for the Hull Road Ward in York, which is now controlled by Labour. 

Last year, he was convicted for obstructing a highway after joining other XR protests blocking a road leading to newspaper printing presses. Then PM Boris Johnson called the stunt ‘completely unacceptable’. 

After this morning’s incident, King Charles continued with a traditional ceremony which sees the sovereign officially welcomed to the city of York by the Lord Mayor. It was last carried out by his mother, the Queen, in 2012.

Following the egging, Charles and Camilla appeared unfazed as they continued their walkabout and greeted some of the crowds.  

The royal couple were in York to attend the unveiling of a statue of Queen Elizabeth II, the first to be installed since her death, as part of a brief tour of Yorkshire. 

Speaking at the ceremony at York Minster, Charles said: ‘The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life. Now her image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square for centuries to come.’

The 2m sculpture weighing 1.1 tonnes and made from lepine limestone from France was designed to celebrate the late Queen’s platinum jubilee and was completed in August, the month before her death.

Today, North Yorkshire Police confirmed a 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. The force said a ‘well-rehearsed’ security operation had been in place for the visit to ensure the royal couple’s safety.

Thelwell has been president of the University of York gardening society and, on a blog where he regularly writes about climate change, says he is preparing to study for a PhD in Interdisciplinary Global Development

Charles’ goddaughter says King is ‘open’ to discussion about the slave trade

King Charles believes that Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade should not be hidden, his goddaughter said yesterday.

Fiona Compton, 41, whose father was Sir John Compton, former prime minister of St Lucia, revealed that she and the King have been speaking about the need for ‘openness’ when discussing Britain’s historical role in the horrific global trade.

She said: ‘He is ready to have active conversations about Britain’s relationship with the slave trade. He agrees this is British history, and it should not be hidden.’

Miss Compton showed Charles her slave-themed artwork in Leeds as he visited World Reimagined, a project involving trails of large globe sculptures in cities across the UK created by artists to bring to life the impact of the transatlantic slave trade.

Speaking afterwards, she added: ‘It’s early days and positive conversations and willingness for openness and engagement.

‘The project and conversations is about engaging British history in the slave trade and having open and meaningful conversations about it.

‘It’s ongoing conversations, he says he is ready to speak on it he is ready to have conversations on and see what work can be done.

‘[We’ve been] Having the conversations for a while. There’s no talk of reparations. It’s not solely for the British monarchy, it’s for British people to have these conversations.’ 

The incident comes just a day after Charles goddaughter, Fiona Compton, revealed that she and the King have been speaking about the need for ‘openness’ when discussing Britain’s historical role in the slave trade. 

Miss Compton said: ‘He is ready to have active conversations about Britain’s relationship with the slave trade. He agrees this is British history, and it should not be hidden.’

Miss Compton showed Charles her slave-themed artwork in Leeds as he visited World Reimagined, a project involving trails of large globe sculptures in cities across the UK created by artists to bring to life the impact of the transatlantic slave trade.

Speaking afterwards, she added: ‘It’s early days and positive conversations and willingness for openness and engagement.

‘The project and conversations is about engaging British history in the slave trade and having open and meaningful conversations about it.

‘It’s ongoing conversations, he says he is ready to speak on it he is ready to have conversations on and see what work can be done.

‘[We’ve been] Having the conversations for a while. There’s no talk of reparations.

‘It’s not solely for the British monarchy, it’s for British people to have these conversations.’

At the end of the campaign, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds to support projects to promote racial justice.

Miss Compton, an historian, artist and official ambassador for London’s Notting Hill Carnival, was born in St Lucia, where her father became the first Prime Minister after independence from Britain in 1979. She showed the King her ‘Palace of the Peacock’ artwork.

Charles arrived to huge cheers outside Leeds Central Library and Art Gallery and met Mason Hicks, 10, the Leeds Children’s Mayor, who presented the King with a birthday card ahead of his 74th birthday next week.

The King, who is on a two-day tour of Yorkshire, earlier enthusiastically shared his tips for the perfect Sunday roast when he visited the Bradford headquarters of the supermarket chain Morrisons.

Charles was in the company’s development kitchen, where they work on ideas for new dishes.

The secret to the perfect roast potato, he said, was to cook them in the fat from the joint.

And when presented with a roast rib of beef, the King responded: ‘This smells irresistible.’

This morning’s incident comes just a day after Charles goddaughter, Fiona Compton, revealed that she and the King have been speaking about the need for ‘openness’ when discussing Britain’s historical role in the slave trade

He discussed the finer points of how to cook a joint – fast, then slow – with chef Mark Richmond and added that using the fat that comes off the meat is essential for a good roast potato.

After Mr Richmond described the other dishes the kitchen had been working on, including triple smoked salmon with herb creme fraiche and vegetables pickled in whisky, Charles laughed: ‘Do you have any appetite left at all?’

At a mock up of the fresh food counters in Morrisons stores, the King expressed a fondness for plate steak, a cheap cut from the brisket.

Charles then visited the fishmonger, where he told Gemma Sunderland, 40, the market street manager in Huddersfield, that one of his favourites was hake.

The commercial manager of Chippindale Foods, Claire Anderson, responsible for the carbon zero eggs sold in Morrisons, then showed the King the black soldier fly larvae that are fed on waste products from their factories.

Miss Anderson brought the larvae, which are fed to their chickens to reduce the amount of soy in their diet, in their dried form to show Charles.

Yesterday, at a mock up of the fresh food counters in Morrisons stores, the King expressed a fondness for plate steak, a cheap cut from the brisket

We did not think that wriggling around ones would be suitable for today!’ Miss Anderson said. He also wanted to know if they produced a good yolk colour.

‘The yolk colour and yolk consistency is very important [to him],’ she said. ‘He also asked about bird flu – the poor chickens being locked inside. They are normally free range, and have been locked inside since yesterday to protect them against avian influenza.’

In an impromptu speech at the end of his visit, the King looked up at the crowds of staff at every balcony in the atrium of the headquarters and told them: ‘It has been so enormously heartening to see the kinds of thing you do within your communities. It is very special.

‘I can only thank you for all of that, and wish you every possible success in the future – and eventually, a very happy Christmas, I hope.’ 

Editor's Note: The preceeding is an article originally published by the UK Daily Mail. Original story can be found by clicking this link.