Royal visit to Australia faces heated protests and controversies
Accusations and insults are being directed at British monarch Charles III, who has arrived for a visit to Sydney. Some Australians are choosing to confront the king publicly, as he remains the ruler not only of the United Kingdom but also of other countries within the Commonwealth of Nations.
1:02 PM EDT, October 22, 2024
The visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla began on Friday and is being disrupted by a series of incidents. On Tuesday, Aboriginal activist Wayne Wharton hurled insults at the monarch as he greeted the crowd in front of the Sydney Opera House, leading to Wharton's arrest.
The day before, a tumultuous incident occurred in the parliament building on Monday. Senator Lidia Thorpe loudly accused the king of "genocide."
Dressed in traditional Aboriginal attire, Thorpe declared to the monarch that "he is not her king." She claimed that Britain was guilty of genocide in Australia and should return all seized assets. Thorpe also demanded loudly that treaties be signed with the British monarchy to define Australia's status clearly.
In a conversation with the BBC, she emphasized that many Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders never ceded sovereignty or land to the Crown. Thorpe said she wanted to deliver a "clear message" to Charles III, informing him he was not their ruler.
The British royal couple's visit to Australia is marred by unpleasant incidents for the monarch
The backdrop was similar to that of Wharton's Tuesday incident. He called Charles III "king of thieves and a king of liars." The Aboriginal activist attempted to serve the British monarch with a notice for his arrest.
However, Wayne Wharton was detained for disturbing the peace and refusing to comply with a police order to leave. The crowd applauded his arrest.
On Sunday, Wharton publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with King Charles III's visit by protesting in front of the church where the royal couple attended a mass.
The British royal couple's visit has sparked a discussion about Australia's status. There are calls to abolish the British monarchy's leadership.
King Charles III's power is symbolic, but there is increasing political pressure for a formal break from London. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a devoted Republican, states this is not the country's most urgent issue.
Charles III remains the king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Australia, and many other countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, including New Zealand, Canada, and Jamaica. Australia is the only former British colony whose government has not entered into treaties with representatives of the indigenous population.
