King Charles Faces Protest During Warm Welcome in Australia: ‘You’re Not My King’
King Charles and Queen Camilla received a warm welcome as they arrived in Canberra on Monday, continuing their Royal Australia visit. The monarch, dressed in a navy-blue suit, and Queen Camilla, wearing a chic white silk crepe dress by Anna Valentine paired with Queen Elizabeth’s diamond and pearl brooch, began their day by visiting the Australian War Memorial.
At the memorial, the royal couple laid a floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Before this solemn moment, they greeted members of the public and later visited the For Our Country memorial, which honors the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women, told the Sky. The King and Queen had previously visited the same location in 2015, and once again, large crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal pair.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancée Jodie Haydon officially welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to Parliament House, marking an important moment in their visit. However, the day did not proceed without controversy.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, a prominent critic of the monarchy, staged a protest during the royal visit. Outside the Australian War Memorial, Thorpe got into a scuffle with a police officer before entering Parliament House, where she loudly voiced her disapproval of the monarchy. During the ceremony, she shouted, “You’re not my king,” accusing the monarchy of historical wrongdoings. “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back, give us back what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people”, told Birmingham Live.
Despite her outcry, security swiftly intervened, dragging her out of the building as she continued to shout, “Our babies, our people, you destroyed our land.” The incident was captured on video and shared by Nine’s 2GB, showing the tense moment unfold.
The video also captured a calm King Charles seated during the disruption. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was seen leaning over to say something to the King, and both appeared to smile as the situation was handled.
While Senator Thorpe’s protest garnered attention, the royal couple’s visit continued as planned, with the focus remaining on their engagements with Australian officials and the public.