It comes as Sir Anish Kapoor hits out at a Supreme Court ruling over the removal of her British citizenship.

The Duchess of Sussex says "I can't breathe" in a scene pointedly evocative of the death of George Floyd.

"If it had been lawful, I'd have been there. I would have been at a vigil," Dame Cressida said.

There were chants of "protect women not statues", according to journalist Sian Bradley.

"It's sad to say, but women are being failed by a woman in charge", one person said.

Banners in the crowd said “Men your silence is deafening” and “Cressida you’re a woman too”, while protesters shouted: “Sisters united will never be defeated.”

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the party cannot support a bill that would lead to harsher penalties for damaging a statue than attacking a woman.

It comes ahead of a crucial vote on a policing bill in the Commons in the wake of the Sarah Everard vigil.

"The last thing the Police need is more powers at this time", the former Labour leader said.