Britain’s King Charles III visited Australia on Monday to address the nation’s leaders, but the event took a sharp turn when an Indigenous senator voiced her opposition. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, from the back of the room, shouted, “You are not my king. Give us our land back, give us what you stole,” just after the King’s speech.
Security officers quickly escorted her away. Thorpe’s outburst came during the royal couple’s visit to Canberra. They were meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other officials at Parliament House.
King Charles Acknowledges First Nations People
In his speech, King Charles acknowledged the deep connection of Australia’s First Nations people to the land. He spoke about the rich cultural exchanges he had experienced with them over the years. Charles mentioned the Aboriginal people, who had lived on the land for thousands of years before the British arrived in the 18th century.
However, Thorpe, a Djab Wurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, has long been a critic of the British monarchy. She advocates for a treaty to be made with Australia’s Indigenous people, who, according to her, never ceded sovereignty.
Thorpe’s protest isn’t her first. In 2022, she referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a “colonizer” during her swearing-in ceremony. This time, Thorpe stood in protest during the recital of “God Save the King,” turning her back to the king while wearing a traditional possum-fur coat.
The Greens party, with which Thorpe was previously affiliated, supported her stance. Senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji Noongar woman, said King Charles needs to support “First Nations justice and truth-telling.” Cox called for clear action from the monarchy in addressing the trauma left by British colonialism.
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Response from Monarchist Supporters
Royal supporters, however, expressed disappointment in Thorpe’s actions. The Australian Monarchist League demanded her resignation, calling her demonstration “childish.”
Despite the protest, King Charles and Queen Camilla continued their visit without addressing the controversy. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, when asked about the incident, praised King Charles, stating he was doing a “fantastic job,” especially considering his health challenges.
The royal couple’s trip marked King Charles III’s first visit to Australia as monarch and came after his cancer diagnosis earlier in the year. His schedule has been lighter than usual, following medical advice.
Among Monday’s activities, Charles and Camilla met with supporters in Canberra, including one memorable encounter with an alpaca named Hephner, who sneezed on the king. The king’s tour also included planting trees at Parliament House to highlight his commitment to environmental issues.
Next, the royal couple is set to visit Sydney for a public reception outside the iconic Opera House before flying to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
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