King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to Australia was met with significant controversy during a parliamentary gathering in Canberra on Monday.
After Charles concluded his speech, Lydia Thorpe, an Indigenous senator and activist for Aboriginal rights, vocally interrupted the event, demanding reparations for the land taken from Indigenous peoples.
Her shouts included, “You are not our King! Give us back our land! Give us what you robbed us of!”
Thorpe, dressed in a traditional possum skin cloak, continued to heckle the King, accusing British colonizers of genocide and making powerful statements about the injustices faced by Indigenous Australians.
As security personnel escorted her out, she reiterated her demands, emphasizing the devastation brought about by colonialism. King Charles observed the disruption with apparent composure while Queen Camilla remained by his side.
This incident occurred during King Charles’s first official visit to Australia since ascending to the throne in 2022 and sparked renewed discussions regarding the future of the monarchy in Australia. The question of whether Australia should remain a constitutional monarchy or become a republic resurfaced, especially in light of Charles’s visit. A referendum in 1999 saw 54.8% of Australians voting against the move to a republic, but the topic continues to linger in public discourse.
In other royal news, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, recently announced that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment. In a video message, she expressed her intention to resume more royal duties, although questions about her health and ongoing treatment remain.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has found success in his legal battle against the British tabloid press, which he discussed in a recent television interview. This victory has, however, intensified the rift between him and other members of the royal family.
On the financial front, the Crown Estate reported a significant increase in profits, thanks in part to offshore wind deals, with visitor numbers to royal palaces nearing pre-pandemic levels. During his speech opening the Parliament, King Charles addressed pressing issues such as climate change and the role of hereditary lawmakers, aligning his message with the new Labor government’s priorities.
Despite the challenges of the republican movement in Australia, including unresolved questions about how to elect a head of state, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull emphasized that there is no personal animosity toward King Charles. He noted that while Charles may not enjoy the same popularity as his late mother or Princess Diana, he still has a considerable number of admirers in Australia, particularly due to his leadership on environmental issues.
Overall, King Charles’s visit has reignited conversations about the monarchy’s place in Australia, juxtaposed with the ongoing struggles for Indigenous rights and the complexities within the royal family itself.
