Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

TWO students claim they were manhandled by security staff and then detained by police – because they were deemed too scruffy to meet Princess Anne.

Hona-Luisa Cohen-Fuentes, 20, and Euan Kidston, 22, say they were studying when security approached them before the princess’s visit to Edinburgh University on Tuesday.

They insist they were physically abused and told: “We have someone really important coming here, we can’t have the likes of you roaming around.”

The students said they were first told to leave the Old College building but staff then changed their minds and decided to detain them.

International student Hona-Luisa said staff told her: “You could be any random scum off the street. I hope you get deported.”

Euan – a third-year anthropology student – added: “I’m still in shock.

(Image: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

“We were quietly studying and had no idea the building was closing. There was no need for violence, we were happy to find somewhere else to study.”

The Old College was hosting Princess Anne, the chancellor of the university, later that day.

The students say they were then met by armed Royalty Protection Squad and police in the Old College quad and subjected to a search in full view of more than 100 other students.

They say royal officers told them they were a threat and later said they’d been “lucky not to have been shot”.

Hona-Luisa and Euan were taken to St Leonard’s police station and detained for almost six hours while their possessions were searched for traces of explosive substances.

Hona-Luisa – who has dual US and Mexican nationality – added: “I was reading philosophy when I was assaulted in a building I assumed to be safe, before being put in a prison cell.

(Image: Paul Chappells/Daily Record)

“The privilege and priority given to Princess Anne is a disgrace, especially as students have already voted to remove her as chancellor.”

Edinburgh University Students’ Association trustee Mike Shaw was outraged at the treatment of the students.

He said: “Having discussed the incident in full with them, I am lost for words. Randomly targeted, physical and verbal assault, topped off with a clear intent to humiliate and traumatise is a disgusting breach of trust between the student body and their institution.”

He said EUSA were supporting them in submitting formal complaints against the university and Police Scotland.

He added: “Needless to say, this is not the end of the matter.”

Last night, a spokeswoman for the university said: “At a time of heightened security in relation to the chancellor’s visit, two students were escorted from Old College as they could not provide a satisfactory explanation for their presence in a part of the building that is a restricted area.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The two students were in an area they shouldn’t have been in. When officers were satisfied of their intentions, they were released without charge.”