Britain’s King Charles III had just finished delivering a speech to Australia’s Parliament House when Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe shouted from the back of the room, “You are not my king.”
Britain’s King Charles III had just finished delivering a speech to Australia’s Parliament House when Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe shouted from the back of the room, “You are not my king.”
Britain’s King Charles III had just finished delivering a speech to Australia’s Parliament House when Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe shouted from the back of the room, “You are not my king.” Thorpe, a vocal Indigenous rights advocate, demanded the return of land, stating, “Give us our land back, give us what you stole.” Security promptly escorted her from the event.
The interruption occurred as King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Canberra to meet Australian leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The event underscored tensions between the British monarchy and some Indigenous Australians.
During his speech, King Charles acknowledged the deep history of Australia’s First Nations people, who had lived on the land for tens of thousands of years before British settlers arrived over 230 years ago. He expressed gratitude for the wisdom and stories shared by Australia’s Indigenous communities.
"Throughout my life, Australia’s First Nations people have done me the great honor of sharing so generously their stories and cultures," King Charles said, further emphasizing the influence their traditional wisdom has had on him.
A traditional Aboriginal welcoming ceremony was held for the royal couple outside Parliament House. However, for many Indigenous Australians, the royal visit is far from a celebration. The arrival of British settlers centuries ago resulted in the massacre and displacement of Indigenous people, a legacy that continues to impact their descendants today.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit rekindled these historical grievances for many in the Indigenous community, who view the British monarchy as a symbol of colonization and systemic oppression.
Lidia Thorpe, a DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, has long advocated for a treaty between Australia’s Indigenous people and the British Crown. She has been outspoken in her opposition to the monarchy, previously referring to Queen Elizabeth II as "the colonizing Her Majesty" during her swearing-in ceremony in 2022.
Thorpe has repeatedly stressed that Australia's Indigenous people never ceded sovereignty and that their rights have been ignored throughout history. Australia remains a Commonwealth nation with the British monarch as its Head of State, which Thorpe continues to oppose.
On the day of the royal visit, protesters gathered outside the Australian War Memorial, where the royal couple made an appearance. Among them, a 62-year-old man was arrested for failing to comply with police orders. Before her outburst in Parliament, Senator Thorpe turned her back on the King during the national anthem, wearing a possum-fur coat as a symbol of resistance.
The Greens Party, which Thorpe was once affiliated with, also released a statement highlighting the visit’s divisive nature. Greens Senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji Noongar woman, called for the King to support “First Nations justice, truth telling, and healing” during his time in Australia.
In the aftermath of the dramatic protest, the Australian Monarchist League demanded Lidia Thorpe's resignation, condemning her actions as a "childish demonstration." Thorpe’s vocal opposition to the monarchy continues to stir debate over the role of the British Crown in modern Australia.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Sydney on Friday as part of the King’s first tour of a Commonwealth realm since assuming the throne. Despite recent health issues, including a cancer diagnosis, the King has remained active, albeit on a lighter schedule as advised by his doctors.
The royal couple’s engagements included a meet-and-greet with supporters, where they were greeted by fans waving Australian flags. One particularly memorable moment came when an alpaca named Hephner sneezed on King Charles, capturing the attention of onlookers.
Royal fan Chloe Pailthorpe, who has corresponded with the royal family since childhood, shared her admiration for the monarchy’s contributions to local communities. "We just love what the royals do and how they impact local communities," Pailthorpe told AFP, citing the royal family’s support for volunteer work and community service.
In keeping with King Charles’ long-standing environmental advocacy, the royal couple participated in tree-planting ceremonies at Government House and the Botanic Gardens. The King’s commitment to addressing climate change has been a focal point of his reign, and his visit to Australia reflects this ongoing dedication.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the King for his early recognition of the “grave reality of climate change” and emphasized the importance of taking meaningful action to combat environmental issues.
Following their engagements in Canberra, King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Sydney on Tuesday, where they will attend a public reception at the Opera House. From there, they will travel to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), marking the King’s first appearance as Head of the Commonwealth since his accession
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