"Palace knew King Charles protester might cause trouble but invited her out of respect"

21 October 2024 , 18:35

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Senator Lidia Thorpe heckled Charles and Camila during a visit to the Australian parliament ( Image: Getty Images)

King Charles has recognised that he will have to have uncomfortable encounters and confrontations with those who believe they’ve been wronged by Britain in the past, writes Mirror royal editor Russell Myers

The threat of a highly charged race row overshadowing another tour is enough to make the Royal family think twice about leaving the house again.

Such is the political and cultural landscape the King and his family have to navigate, some may ask why a known protester was allowed to get so close to the monarch and open him up to such an embarrassing exchange.

The reason is simple and the questions should be directed at the possible alternatives.

If Buckingham Palace had moved to ban Lidia Thorpe from the Parliament where she is an elected official, the headlines would be grim reading.

Palace officials admitted how they feared Ms Thorpe could use the opportunity to put herself at the centre of the King’s trip Down Under, but sought to invite her to the engagement in Canberra as “a sign of mutual respect and understanding”.

Sadly, they say, that respect and understanding was lacking on the senator’s part.

The world is an ever-changing place and no more so in today’s society. The King recognises he will at times have to have uncomfortable conversations, especially with communities or individuals who believe they have been wronged by Britain.

But after an overwhelmingly positive reception while in Australia and response to the outburst, it’s no wonder Charles will continue undeterred. 

There is no hiding place for the family and the former Empire. The royal tours of complete deference are a thing of the past and incidents like this will cause concern.

Russell Myers

Source: Mirror.co.uk

Sophia Martinez