Harry May, 21, of Luton, was charged with a Section 5 public order offence following the incident, during the monarch's visit to the town on 6 December.

Prosecutor Jason Seetal told Westminster Magistrates' Court that May was detained after officers saw him hurl a projectile towards the royal as he spoke to members of the public.

The egg landed on the floor nearby.

Mr Seetal said when officers interviewed him, he told them "he did this because he believed the King visiting a town like Luton, which is a deprived and poor area, was in bad taste and he wanted to make a point of this".

May was charged with an offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The incident took place outside Luton Town Hall as King Charles visited the Bedfordshire town.

The monarch was initially steered away from crowds by protection officers, but continued to greet members of the public after being moved to a different area.