Individuals arrested or subjected to police searches on the eve of the royal wedding are to challenge the legality of the policing ahead of William and Kate's nuptials last year at the High Court.

As another major royal event - the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - fast approaches, the police are being accused of operating an unlawful policy of stopping, searching and arresting those with "anti-monarchist" views.

The challenge is being heard by Lord Justice Richards and Mr Justice Openshaw sitting at the High Court in London.

Metropolitan Police lawyers are expected to argue there is no evidence that an unlawful policy was in operation on Friday April 29, 2011 when Prince William married Kate Middleton.

They will contend police activities were aimed at preventing criminal conduct, not preventing lawful protest.

The Met is expected to point out that several anti-royal protests took place in central London which were peaceful and the police did not intervene.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton married in April 2011


The application for judicial review is being brought by some 20 individuals who were arrested on the wedding day, or were subjected to searches on days leading up to it.

Two of the applicants, Theodora Middleton and Dafydd Lewis, had their possessions searched when police officers raided their homes at Sipson Camp, a squatters' site named Grow Heathrow in West Drayton, Uxbridge, west London.

The camp was initially set up to oppose the building of a new runway at Heathrow Airport but later turned into a community garden and climate change campaign centre.

Lawyers for Ms Middleton and Mr Lewis argue that the searches constituted an "unlawful interference" with their right to respect for their homes and private life under human rights legislation. They are also challenging the legality of a decision by Bromley magistrates to grant the police a search warrant.

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BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE ROYAL WEDDING:
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  • Kate Middleton arrives with her father, Michael Middleton, at Westminster Abbey. (AFP photo)

  • Pippa Middleton arrives with the flowers girls and page boys at Westminster Abbey. (AFP photo)

  • Kate having her dress adjusted. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate at the altar during their wedding ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate at their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey. (AFP photo)

  • The couple exchanging rings at their ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate leaving Westminster Abbey after the wedding service. (AFP photo)

  • Prince Philip shakes hands with the Dean of Westminster John upon arrival at Westminster Abbey. (AFP photo)

  • Prince Harry and Prince William greet a guest while waiting for the arrival of Kate. (Getty photo)

  • Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, before his son's wedding ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Flower girls and page boys arrive at the Royal Wedding. (AFP photo)

  • Florists deliver flowers and plants to Westminster Abbey in preparation for the Royal Wedding. (AFP photo)

  • Florists deliver flowers and plants to Westminster Abbey in preparation for the Royal Wedding (AFP photo)

  • Staff dress the balcony at Buckingham Palace ahead of the Royal Wedding. (Getty photo)

  • A worker makes the final preparations on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. (Getty photo)

  • Police Security during the Royal Wedding. (WireImage photo)

  • A horse, without a rider, gallops along the Processional Route during the Royal Wedding. (Getty photo)

  • Guests arrive at the wedding ceremony. (Getty photo)

  • Pippa Middleton and Eliza Lopez on their way to the ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Ceremonial guards perform near Buckingham Palace. (Getty photo)

  • Flower girl Margarita Armstrong-Jones waives on her way to the ceremony. (Getty photo)

  • Prince William holds Kate's hand after their wedding service. (AFP photo)

  • Queen Elizabeth sheds a tear after the wedding of her grandson, Prince William. (AFP photo)

  • Prince Harry and James Middleton follow Prince William after the Royal Wedding ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate traveling along the Processional Route. (AFP photo)

  • Pippa Middleton leaving the wedding ceremony. (Getty photo)

  • Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip leaving the Royal Wedding. (Flickr photo)

  • A band of the Queen's guard perform in the Mall on the day of the Royal Wedding. (Getty photo)

  • Prince Charles, Camilla and Carole Middleton arrive at Buckingham Palace after the wedding ceremony. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate arrive at Buckingham Palace. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate arrive at Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony. (Getty photo)

  • Prince William and Kate arrive at Buckingham Palace after their wedding. (Getty photo)

  • Kate arrivals at Buckingham Palace after her wedding to greet her guests. (AFP photo)

  • Details of Kate's engagement ring and flowers. (Getty photo)

  • Details of Kate's wedding and engagement rings. (Getty photo)

  • Kate bends down to talk to a flower girl from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. (WireImage photo)

  • Fans watch Prince William and Kate kissing on a giant screen in Trafalgar Square in central London. (Getty photo)

  • Royal Wedding fans dress for the occasion. (Getty photo)

  • Chefs putting the final touches on the Royal Wedding Cake. (Getty photo)

  • Cake designer Fiona Cairns standing in front of the Royal Wedding cake she designed. (AFP photo)

  • The Royal Wedding cake. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate leave in Prince Charles' vintage Aston Martin DB6 Volante. (Getty photo)

  • The couple leaving Buckingham Palace. (AFP photo)

  • The couple leaving Buckingham Palace. (AFP photo)

  • More fans dress-up for the celebration. (AFP photo)

  • Commemorative Royal Wedding serviettes and plates. (Getty photo)

  • Soliders in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan celebrating the Royal Wedding. (Getty photo)

  • Children waving British flags during the Royal Wedding. (AFP photo)

  • Kate and Camilla leaving to travel to Buckingham Palace for the wedding reception. (AFP photo)

  • Prince William and Kate leave Clarence House for Buckingham Palace. (Getty photo)