Alessandra Zavatta September 23, 2023
First anti-monarchist protest at Buckingham Palace. About ten Republican activists sneaked into the palace where King Charles III was being held today. lives with Queen Camilla, and mingled with the many tourists who visit him. They paid for the ticket: 30 pounds. When they arrived at the party room, they took off their jackets and presented their yellow and black T-shirts with “Not my King” printed on them. Slogan addressed to the new monarch, who they consider no longer suitable for the role of head of state, in the hope of transforming Great Britain into a republic. Footage of the raid was subsequently shared on social media and picked up by English newspapers. However, Carlo was not in the palace at the time. He was at Balmoral Castle in Scotland returning from a visit to France, where he met President Emmanuel Macron.
BREAKING NEWS: Republic activists have staged the first protest at Buckingham Palace! #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy pic.twitter.com/Vey1MQbkw4
– Republic (@RepublicStaff) September 23, 2023
This is the first anti-monarchy protest at Buckingham Palace,” said Republic spokesman Graham Smith. “Citizens sitting on the seat of the monarchy to declare their opposition to hereditary power: a fantastic message.” We want the sovereign to be replaced by a head of state democratically elected by the people.”
In the days leading up to the king’s coronation last May, the group organized a series of protests in London, hoisting banners reading “Not my king” in the streets and blocking car traffic. As a result, Scotland Yard arrested six demonstrators. In fact, new English legislation imposes a prison sentence of up to 12 months for those who block roads. After the harsh police response, the anti-monarchists changed their approach to make their demands heard. And so, after months of silence, they unexpectedly reappeared in the “heart” of the monarchy: Buckingham Palace, symbol and headquarters of the British Crown.
“Charles is not an untouchable monarch, he is not immune to criticism and does not enjoy the deference that protected the monarchy when Elizabeth, his mother, was on the throne,” writes the Chron newspaper. Meanwhile, republican activists have arranged to meet in Westminster on November 7th for the State Opening, the official opening of Parliament, which takes place every year at the start of the session, presided over by King Charles himself.