King Charles was left “taken aback” after a protester shouted “you are not my King,” while he gave a speech to the Australian Parliament, royal commentator Ingrid Steward has claimed.
Charles has battled protests on his trip around Australia, but faced a dramatic interruption during his visit to the Australian parliament on Monday, as Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe shouted anti-colonial slogans.
Speaking about the reaction from the monarch, royal correspondent Steward explained: “Lydia Thorpe is actually the first Aboriginal senator. She’s the senator for Victoria, and she has a reputation for popping up and protesting.
“This would have not come as much of a surprise to the people there. She was wearing an aborigine cape. She has a right to [protest] it’s a democracy.
The protester interrupted The King’s speech
The Time/ Kate Manset
“I think that the King was actually rather taken aback more than hurt. I think he knows perfectly well that there are demonstrations all over the world.
“The things she said, ‘you’re not my King’ is something that he has heard before, but it doesn’t make it very pleasant.”
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She added: “He had just given a very important speech to their Parliament. I think this was probably very embarrassing for everybody around.
“Probably more embarrassing for everyone else than it was actually for the King because she was whisked away very quickly.”
The independent lawmaker confronted the 75-year-old king moments after he finished his speech, yelling, “This is not your land, you are not my king” and demanding, “Give us our land back!”
Thorpe’s almost minute-long diatribe shocked assembled lawmakers and dignitaries.
Ingrid Seward said that it was “very embarrassing”
GB News
The senator, known for her attention-grabbing political stunts and fierce opposition to the monarchy, accused European settlers of committing “genocide” against indigenous Australians.
Australia is a Commonwealth country where the King serves as the head of state.
King Charles’s visit comes at a sensitive time, following the failed 2023 referendum on Indigenous recognition.
Charles was ‘taken aback’ by the protest
PA
Despite the protest, Charles continued his tour, which included engagements focused on environmental issues and community resilience.
The royal visit aims to strengthen ties between the UK and Australia, even as questions about the monarchy’s role persist.
Despite gaining de facto independence in 1901, Australia has never become a republic.