USA TODAY Sep 17, 2022
After anti-monarchist protesters were arrested, Britons wonder about freedom of speech, the timing of the protests and what's next for the U.K.
RELATED: 'Small bit of service' to wait in a 5-mile line to see the Queen
Queen Elizabeth II's death has sparked widespread grief in the U.K., along with concerns that civil rights were undermined during brief crackdowns on protesters.
But amid an economic crisis and waning support for a monarchical system, when the queen's mourning period ends, some Britons think it's time to talk about the monarchy.
"A significant amount of appreciation in the U.K. for the monarchy wasn't necessarily for the institution. It was for the queen," said Paul Powlesland, 36, a lawyer who stood outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday with a blank piece of paper in his hand and said he was told he would be arrested if he wrote "Not my king" on it, a reference to his disapproval of King Charles III, who inherited the throne from his mother.
Sep 16, 2022
Al Jazeera English
It has not been all celebration, since King Charles III became Britain's monarch. Some have been making their Republican views known by protesting.
Al Jazeera's Neave Barker reports from London
Taxpayers 'pay for your parade':
Charles heckled in Wales on cost of
monarchy
Anti-monarchists protest outside British parliament
STORY: Among those attending Tuesday's protest was the lawyer in question,
36-year-old Paul Powlesland, who said people need to separate the issue of
mourning the Queen and the new king's succession, pointing out they were not
protesting near any funeral or remembrance.
"We’re at the political centre of power, where the king came yesterday to say that he's the new king,. We're his subjects and we’re here to say (that) actually we disagree. We politely and very respectfully disagree with you. You're not my king.”
Powlesland, had posted on social media an altercation he had with an officer in Parliament Square on Monday, while reportedly holding up a blank piece of paper. He said the officer told him he risked being arrested if he went ahead and wrote "not my king" on it because "someone might be offended".
The clip went viral, with more than one million views on Twitter. Scotland Yard later issued a statement, saying: "The public absolutely have a right to protest," British media reported.
Holding a "not my king" sign at Tuesday's rally, Powlesland said it was "great to be able to do that and to stand here peacefully expressing my opinion and exercising a very ancient British right that I think we’re all entitled to."
Charles, 73, automatically became king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms, following the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday (September 8).
Anti-monarchy protesters boo King outside UK parliament | AFP
Sep 12, 2022
Two anti-monarchy protesters boo King Charles III as he leaves the British Parliament in London where he received condolences from the Speakers of both Houses following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 'You can't have any philosophical or moral justification for one family having political power like that just by virtue of their birth,' says one protester.
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