Dozens of anti-monarchy demonstrators gathered in central London on Saturday, calling for the abolition of the British monarchy. The protest, organised by the pressure group Republic, saw participants march from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, carrying placards with slogans such as 'abolish the monarchy' and 'not my King'.
Elizabeth McIntyre, a London-based member of Republic, voiced her opposition to the monarchy, stating: 'I really object to the class system in this country. I think it creates a hierarchy which is absolutely unacceptable. At the top of that hierarchy is an unelected monarchy, which means that from top to bottom there is inequality, and this has to go.'
Graham Smith, leader of Republic, claimed the movement is gaining momentum, particularly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. He said: 'We want everybody outside the palace making a statement. It is about showing that we are growing and there is a mood change. Twenty years ago this wasn’t happening at all, there is a big change in public mood.' Smith added that the group has grown from one member of staff to many since the Queen's death and the coronation.
Writer Otto English addressed the crowd in Trafalgar Square, asserting that democracy is broken, citing recent local elections as evidence. Patrick Harvie, former co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, said: 'May 9 is Republic day and it is an important moment to come together to celebrate and remember the fact that a great many people in this country do recognise that inherited wealth, power and privilege is wrong.'
Norman Baker, former Liberal Democrat minister and MP for Lewes, criticised the monarchy's perceived entitlement, saying: 'You have this insufferable arrogance that they pay for nothing and expect everything to be given to them by the state or by somebody else.'
