Former first minister Alex Salmond led a crowd of thousands in a chant calling for Scotland to be independent - encouraging them to shout louder for "the benefit of those in Westminster Abbey".

The Alba Party leader was speaking at a rally held by independence campaigners All Under One Banner and organisers told the crowd the estimated attendance was more than 20,000.

Marchers set off from Kelvingrove Park in the city's west end at around 11.30am - coinciding with the King's coronation ceremony - to a rally at Glasgow Green.

Mr Salmond told the crowd: "In London, the subjects are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown.

"In Scotland, in Glasgow, the citizens choose to swear an oath of loyalty to Scotland.

"The homage of the people is now to be said silently - which will stop people having to swear at their TV sets."

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Two hours after the procession began in Kelvin Way the march made it Glasgow Green. Spirits weren't dampened despite a broken sound system delaying the start of speeches and the pouring rain. 

The Herald: Alex Salmond poses for selfies with those attending the indy march. Photo by Gordon Terris.Alex Salmond poses for selfies with those attending the indy march. Photo by Gordon Terris. (Image: Newsquest)

Organisers have claimed 20,000 are in attendance while police are reporting just 5,000. 

Among those attending was Ash Regan MSP who lost out to Humza Yousaf in the bid to be SNP leader and First Minister in March.

It might have been a gloomy day in Glasgow, but it did not deter independence supporters. The All Under One banner was led by a pipe band.

The Herald: Independence rally winds its way through Glasgow. Photo by Gordon Terris.Independence rally winds its way through Glasgow. Photo by Gordon Terris. (Image: Newsquest)

One attendee said: "I come every march this is about independence the movement is growing and you can see that today... there is no significance of today in particular". 

Half an hour after the start time marches are still trickling off Kelvinway. 

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A vocal supporter told The Herald that "Scottish sovereignty lies within the stone of destiny. Today is the day to show Scotland wants independence."

Humza Yousaf had been to speak at the independence rally in Glasgow but took his place at Westminster Abbey for the King’s coronation.

As speeches got under way Mr Salmond said England is a "country moving backwards" and said the march was "one of the greatest in Scotland ever", claiming the nationalist movement is the "strongest political force in Scotland".

He called for parties backing Scottish independence to stand together at the election in seeking a mandate.

He added: "We want our independence and we want it now."

He then led the crowd in a chant calling for independence, urging them to shout louder "for the benefit of those in Westminster Abbey".

Other speakers included Ash Regan, who lost out in the SNP leadership race to now first minister Humza Yousaf.

She told urged to crowd to unite, saying "now is not the time for division".

She added: "An independent Scotland can only be built from a foundation of integrity."

Earlier in the week Mr Salmond said Scottish police should have staged a "standoff" outside Edinburgh Castle to prevent the Stone of Destiny from being moved to London for the coronation.

He said such a move could have been used as a bargaining tool in the push for a second independence referendum.

The stone was taken to London last week to be used in the coronation, with First Minister Humza Yousaf attending a ceremony during which it was removed from its resting place at the castle.

The stone has been used to crown monarchs of Scotland - and later the UK - in a tradition dating back centuries.

Mr Yousaf dismissed the suggestion of involving the police, saying it would have "not been the right thing to do".

Our Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, will also stage a protest in Edinburgh.

The event on Calton Hill includes speeches from Scottish Government minister and Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, as well as SNP MP Tommy Sheppard and Green MSP Maggie Chapman.