Charles and Camilla have been well-received throughout their tour of Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand, being greeted with gifts, applause, and enthusiastic handshakes at every stop. But one Kiwi crowd member wasn’t so welcoming.
Police arrested known anti-royalist and Sam Bracanov on suspicion of planning to attack the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in Auckland on Monday.
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The 76-year-old New Zealand man was spotted on CCTV carrying an unidentified item, the man is said to be a known “anti-royal protestor”.
Bracanov appeared in Auckland District Court today and pleaded not guilty to a charge of preparing to commit an assault on the royal couple.
He told media of his bizarre protest plan while sitting on an upturned rubbish bin outside court after his appearance.
“I went to get a bag of horse manure for $2 and I make it liquid, like a porridge,” he said, and made a throwing motion with his hands.
“I would have done it.”
The “serial pest” tried to justify his attempted attack as he opposed the idea of the Prince being born into privilege rather than earning his position.
“He didn’t qualify with his brain. He qualified with his body, and what your body produces goes to the toilet, so I would hit him with what goes to toilet.”
Luckily, police foiled Bracanov’s plan ensuring he got nowhere near the royal couple. He was detained an hour before their arrival at Auckland quayside to meet well-wishers.
Bracanov was granted bail at his court appearance on the condition he stays at least 500 metres away from them.
This isn’t the first time Bracanov has tried to attack the royals, during the 1990s he tried to spray the prince and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, with air freshener saying he wanted to “remove the stink of royalty”.
He agreed to comply to the bail conditions, for this visit, anyway.
“I’m not doing it again. There’s always next time. Next time I might be successful,” he said today.
Security is a top priority on royal tours, with the Australian police force holding principle responsibility in close consultation with the Metropolitan Police travelling with the royal party.
Related: Royals remember diggers in New Zealand
While the royal couple have had a mostly peaceful visit, they do occasionally face protests.
A small group of protesters were among well-wishers greeting the Prince and Duchess in Auckland on Tuesday, one holding a sign reading “get a job royal bludgers”.
Video: NZ police foil royal attack
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