3rd May, 2023
UK’s TV channel, Sky News on Wednesday reported that at least 1,600 activists opposing UK’s monarchy will protest in London on the day of the coronation of Charles III, citing a leader of the antimonarchist movement Republic.
The CEO of Republic Graham Smith was quoted by Sky News as saying “we are opposed to the monarchy, and this is a very public display of hereditary privilege and power and needs to be challenged.’’
According to the report, the protesters plan to follow the coronation route holding banners and chanting “Abolish the monarchy” and “Not my king”.
“It’s also an appalling waste of public money when it’s completely unnecessary, so we think this is an opportunity to make clear that we’re not a nation of royalists,” Smith was quoted in the report as saying.
Sky News added that no official number has been provided, the coronation is expected to cost 250 million pounds ($314 million),
On April 26, the Evening Standard reported citing unnamed sources that the coronation might cost some 50-100 million pounds of UK taxpayers’ money.
In January, the Republic’s activists held the first in the series of their protests against the upcoming coronation.
In early April, the other group’s activists received Charles and his wife Camilla in York holding banners saying “Not my king”.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be officially crowned on May 6.
His predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Sept. 8 in Scotland at the age of 96 years.
Her reign, lasting 70 years and 214 days, was the longest of any British monarch. (Sputnik/NAN)