Anti-monarchy protesters sneak into Buckingham Palace to stage protest
Republican protesters staged a protest against the monarchy inside Buckingham Palace today - the first time a protest has taken place inside the King’s London residence and main home of the Royal Family.
The protest took place just after midday today by members of Republic, the campaign group who advocate an elected Head of State. After posing as tourists to get into the Grand Hall of the palace, the group unzipped jackets and jumpers to reveal t-shirts spelling out the words: “NOT MY KING”.
Six of the activists - who hailed from different parts of the UK - were detained by security and taken out of the front gate of Buckingham Palace. CEO of Republic Graham Smith described the protest as a “fantastic statement of intent”.
With polls showing a notable drop in support for the royals in recent years, the protest came as the latest attempt by campaigners to push the debate around the monarchy into the mainstream. Mr Smith added that the protest showed “citizens standing up in the home of the monarchy to declare their opposition to hereditary power”.
Graham Smith has been CEO of Republic since 2021 (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)"Charles is not an untouchable monarch,” he added, “he is not immune to criticism and doesn't enjoy the deference that protected the monarchy while his mother was on the throne.
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"Charles is not a unifying figure, he is a hypocrite on the environment, he has questions to answer about cash for honours and dodgy donations from Qataris and he is out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people struggling with the cost of living crisis."
Major controversy was sparked when the group attempted to protest at the King’s coronation earlier this year - but wound up being arrested by police when in possession of a number of “Not My King” placards. “Make no mistake,” Mr Smith tweeted at the time, “There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.”
Republic protest at royal celebrations and events - not including the Queen's funeral (Getty Images)The Met expressed “regret” over the arrest days later, saying: “This evening all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken. We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route.”
Mr Smith added, of today’s protest: "I'm proud of our local activists who came together today to take this stand. Our local campaigns are expanding rapidly, with more than thirty now active around the UK. Republic will continue to protest against the monarchy up and down the country, with the next protest set for the state opening of parliament on November 7."
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