Royal family: Protests raise questions about the future of the monarchy in the U.K.

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

https://bit.ly/3BrxWgE

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.

"Now that she's gone I think there's going to be a lot of people reassessing their relationship with the monarchy, especially as I think Charles is inherently less likable," he said.

Arrest of UK anti-monarchy protestersraises free speech  concerns
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

Tue, September 13, 2022

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.

 

IN SCOTLAND; PRINCE ANDREW CALLED DIRTY OLD MAN, PROSTER ARRESTED

 

Gravitas: British cops crack down on anti-monarchy protesters

Sep 13, 2022

WION

Cops in the United Kingdom are being criticized for arresting anti-monarchy

 protesters. Republican groups have now threatened to hold more protests 

during the coronation of King Charles. Molly Gambhir gets you the details.

  

Arrest of UK anti-royal protesters raises concerns for free speech by human rights groups 

Sep 14, 2022

ABC News (Australia)

In the UK, authorities are preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth as she lies in state in central London. Amid the largely supportive wall-to-wall coverage of the solemn proceedings, some have expressed concern about the police response to anti-monarchy protesters. From London, here's James Glenday.

 

Scottish demonstrators hold up blank signs to show support for free speech, anti-monarchy protesters

Sep 13, 2022

Global News

Protesters held up blank signs and banners during a demonstration in Edinburgh, Scotland on Tuesday to protest a perceived crackdown on free speech amid reported arrests of anti-monarchy protesters during the processions carrying Queen Elizabeth II’s casket throughout the capital on Sunday and Monday.

Scottish police said they made three arrests in Edinburgh on those days. A 22-year-old woman, who had been pictured holding an anti-monarchy sign, and a 74-year-old man were arrested separately on Sunday and charged with “breaching the peace.”

“People have been arrested for peacefully holding up signs with anti-monarchy views,” one protester said. “So my sign is blank today. But if it said a message that was against the monarchy, judging by the last few days, we could be arrested.”

Video posted to social media on Monday also showed a man who appeared to have heckled Prince Andrew during the procession of the queen’s coffin along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile being pushed to the ground as police pulled him away.

Symon Hill tells PoliticsJOE he was arrested by the police for questioning the legitimacy of the monarchy in public.

 

Andrew Marr slams arrests of people for protesting against King Charles

This video clip is from Andrew Marr's LBC show which took place on September 12th 2022