Not everyone applauded the royal visit

A Scottish group campaigning to abolish the monarchy has slammed King Charles’ visit to an Alloa foodbank.

Our Republic said the visit to The Gate foodbank in the town was an emblem of the gulf between “the image he intends to project and the reality of the people he rules over from a golden throne.”

Protesters who were cordoned off from the event shouted "not my king.”

The foodbank charity helped 4,273 people last year and provided 190 food parcels per month.

It continues to provide around 75,000 meals per year and supports four satellite food larders in the region.

However, activists rounded on the monarch for his hypocrisy visiting a foodbank when, they said, just 1% of his wealth could fund Trusell Trust foodbanks for an entire year.

Our Republic wrote in a blog: “Foodbanks have become a grim symbol of systemic failure, existing as emergency lifelines for people failed by our society and government. The number of Scots relying on foodbanks has surged in recent years, driven by rising living costs and an eroding welfare state.

“If the monarchy were to remain relevant in Scotland it would move beyond symbolic acts and instead use its platform to advocate for systemic change or investing in initiatives that tackle poverty and inequality at their roots.

“It could mean listening – truly listening – to the voices of those who feel forgotten. It would mean more than acknowledging historical occasions or visiting its food banks. It would mean grappling with the realities of Scotland’s present.”

Evelyn Paterson, The Gate's founder, praised the dedication of the charity’s volunteers, adding: "The king's visit has been the best thing that's ever happened to us."