Egg splatters Queen

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 1

Egg splatters Queen

PA Auckland The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh encountered protesters at both their main functions in Auckland yesterday. Eight people were arrested after an egg-throw-ing incident and a noisy city demonstration. Eggs were thrown at the Royal Couple as they drove in an open vehicle round Ellerslie race-

course during a function for schoolchildren.

Protesters chanted loudly and waved antiRoyal placards at an afternoon civic welcome in Aotea Square. One egg hit the windscreen of the Queen’s vehicle, splattering her coat and handbag. Another thrown seconds later missed the vehicle.

Two women posing as marshals in white coats

turned to run after the egg-throwing incident but were seized by police travelling in a van behind.

The women, a 21-year-old sickness beneficiary and a 20-year-old student, will appear in the District Court at Auckland today charged with disorderly behaviour.

A British parliamentarian demanded in London yesterday that New Zea-

land step up security for the Queen.

“The fact that somebody was able to hurl an egg at her demonstrates a weakness in security,” said Mr Geoffrey Dickens, a Conservative. “It could easily have been a grenade.”

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said later he would personally apologise to the Queen over the incident