The King has asked for daily updates on protests planned around the UK, Sky News understands.

He is said to be engaging privately in the issues the unrest has generated.

The King has a longstanding record of involvement in issues around community cohesion and interfaith dialogue.

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It comes as thousands of specialist police have been mobilised tonight amid fears of at least 100 far-right protests and 30 counter-protests around the UK.

The trouble began after the stabbing of three young girls in Southport last week and amid false rumours the attacker was an asylum seeker who had arrived by boat.

Many businesses have chosen to shut early on Wednesday in case the gatherings again descend into serious violence.

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A list of immigration solicitors’ firms and advice agencies was shared in chat groups as possible targets, with the message telling people to “mask up”.

The prime minister and senior police officers have warned the full force of the law will be used to swiftly punish any offenders.

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Dozens of people accused of being involved in the violence have already appeared in courts around the country.

They include Derek Drummond, 58, who has been jailed for three years after admitting violent disorder and punching a police officer in the face in Southport.

Liam Riley, 41, is another who’s been sentenced.

He admitted violent disorder and a racially aggravated public order offence in Liverpool city centre on Saturday night.

Riley, who has no previous convictions but two previous cautions, was jailed for 20 months.

Declan Geiran, 29, also admitted being involved in the violence in Liverpool, as well as sending threatening messages to a woman.

A court heard he was caught on CCTV setting a police van on fire before sitting down and looking “casually” back at what he had done.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Read more:
A snapshot of people in court over the violence
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The unrest has also led to a row between Tory leadership rivals after Robert Jenrick told Sky News people shouting Allahu Akbar on the streets should be “immediately arrested”.

Mel Stride said “wholesale criminalisation” of the words – used by many Muslims every day – was “unwise and insensitive”.

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Former Tory Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad said the comments fuelled Islamophobia “at a time when communal tensions are high”.

Following the backlash, Mr Jenrick posted a video on X of a march through Bolton with people chanting the phrase.

He said: “‘Allahu Akbar’ is spoken peacefully and spiritually by millions of British Muslims in their daily lives. But the aggressive chanting below is intimidatory and threatening.”

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