LONDON, England - December 9, 2010 - Anarchists protesting against the student tuition fee rises attacked a car carrying Prince Charles and Camilla outside the London Palladium, it was reported tonight.

The couple was due to attend the Royal Variety Performance, which was taking place close to the epicentre of a day of violent protest in Parliament Square.

At least nine police officers were seriously injured today as mask-wearing anarchists hijacked the final tuition fees protest and turned yet another peaceful demonstration into chaos.

Around 20,000 students and activists descended on central London as the demonstrations of recent weeks culminated in a final show of anger at the hike and the Liberal Democrat U-turn.

Shortly before 6pm the policy to increase the fees cap to £9,000 was carried by 323 votes to 302 - a majority of 21.

The vote did nothing to quell the unrest and two protesters were filmed smashing away at the reinforced glass windows of the Treasury building with broken breezeblocks as they tried to enter the building.

When protesters broke through windows and doors a line of police officers formed a new barrier with their riot shields to prevent them from entering.

A Met spokesman said, “Eight officers have been seriously injured, we have reports of suspected broken wrists and leg and neck injuries. Extreme violence currently being directed towards officers is hindering attempts to allow non-violent protesters to leave the containment area.”

As the violence spread wider in London, a car belonging to Prince Charles and Camilla, who had been attending the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium, had its windows smashed in with rocks.

Protests took place throughout the day in the lead up to the vote.

Three officers were wounded and had to be taken to hospital after clashes when a hardcore group of protesters repeatedly tried to break through police lines outside the Houses of Parliament earlier in the day.

Footage showed one policeman lying motionless on the ground. Medics fitted him with a neck brace and used a makeshift stretcher to remove him.

One mounted officer was knocked from his horse as missiles including flares, sticks, snooker balls and smoke bombs were hurled from the crowds across the cordon.

As MPs prepared to vote on the controversial fee rise earlier, Scotland Yard resorted to 'kettling' the demonstrators in Parliament Square in a bid to contain the violence.

A student was spotted urinating on the Winston Churchill statue, wooden benches were set alight and the grass was covered with a huge 'No' in bright red graffiti.

Protesters were forced to run back into the Square after mounted police charged at the crowds in a desperate bid to stop the surge. Seven have been arrested so far.

Teenager Sophie Down said, “The police were backing off and we were trying to work it what was happening and we didn't know what was going on, then they all just started charging. I'm worried about my friends. I saw a guy who was sitting on the ground and I could see something was wrong with him. Everyone was in a good mood - it was like a carnival - but there are people who are clearly looking for a fight.”