(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 9, 2022 Britain’s King Charles III reacts after an egg was thrown in his direction during a ceremony at Micklegate Bar in York, northern England as part of a two-day tour of Yorkshire. (Photo by James Glossop / POOL / AFP)

 

A 23-year-old man from York in northern England was charged Monday with “threatening behaviour” after several eggs were thrown towards King Charles III during a visit to the city last month.

Patrick Thelwell will appear at York Magistrates’ Court on January 20 next year, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said, following a probe into the November 9 incident.

He could face up to six months in prison if convicted, according to sentencing guidelines.

Thelwell was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and released later that day, police said at the time, after several eggs landed near the monarch as he toured central York.

 

The university student remained free on bail, with part of his temporary release conditions that he could not carry eggs in public apart from when grocery shopping.

“The CPS has authorised North Yorkshire Police to charge Patrick Thelwell with threatening behaviour contrary to Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986,” said Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.

“This follows an investigation by police into an incident in which eggs were thrown at HM (His Majesty) The King in York on 9 November 2022.”

He noted that Thelwell has “the right to a fair trial” and restrictions on what can be reported in an active UK criminal case were in place.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” the CPS said