As the coach transporting Charles III passed through Westminster Abbey, Anna Edwards did not fervently wave the British flag, but waved her placard crossed out with an irreverent “Not My King” as high as possible. king “).
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Like her, hundreds of “pro-republic” protesters took up residence in Trafalgar Square early Saturday morning and set up huge yellow “Abolish The Monarchy” flags along the road taken. by the king before being crowned.
“I am pro-democracy and I think people should have the choice of whether or not they want a monarch as head of state,” said the 33-year-old Londoner.
“I’m not particularly anti-monarchy, but I’m pro-choice,” she told AFP as protesters flocked by the hundreds in good spirits.
However, one question is on everyone’s lips: will the police, who had announced a very low level of “tolerance” vis-à-vis the protests, intervene to prevent the mobilization?
These fears were quickly confirmed: the Republic movement behind the demonstration announced that its leader Graham Smith had been arrested along with five other activists and that “hundreds of signs” bearing the slogan “Not my King” ) have been entered.
“Free Graham Smith,” the demonstrators then began to shout.
On a high platform, police monitor the crowd, binoculars and cameras in hand, to spot the slightest overflow.
“That is exactly why we are here today. Because the monarchy represents everything that is wrong with the United Kingdom: privileges, inequalities and the absence of democracy, ”said Martin Weegman to AFP, “Republic” cap screwed on his head.
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“I don’t believe it, it’s scandalous,” also laments Eva, 19, scrolling through images showing the arrests on her phone.
This mathematics student explains that she had not planned to come, but changed her mind when the announcement of the accelerated promulgation on Wednesday of a new law, criticized by the UN, which gives more means to the police to prevent “serious disturbances”.
“Nothing is wrong with this law so I don’t particularly want to celebrate anything,” she adds.
“Monarchy outdated”
Republicans remain a very small minority in the UK, but they have become more visible since the death of the very popular Elizabeth II last September, and a handful of them demonstrate almost systematically during the movements of Charles III.
On Saturday, hundreds of people also demonstrated in Cardiff, Wales to oppose the monarchy. Before meeting in a city park for a “Big Republican Lunch”, a response to the “Big Lunch” scheduled for Sunday across the UK in honor of the coronation.
In London, Alice Ridge, 65, Union Jack hat on her head, came to cheer for the new king, but found herself unwillingly amid pro-republic protest.
“Don’t spoil the party,” she says visibly annoyed before walking away.
The cohabitation is cordial between the demonstrators and the rest of the crowd, but as the royal procession approaches, the “Not My King” and the “Down With The Crown” (“Down with the Crown”) are immediately booed by the ardent admirers of the monarchy, who start the national anthem, “God Save The King”, waving the British flags.
Jane Sutton, in her thirties, is amused by this confrontation. She is delighted to see that so many demonstrators made the trip despite the rain to criticize an “outdated” monarchy.
“There is now a real voice for republicanism” in the United Kingdom, underlines Anna, 54, who wishes to remain anonymous.
She evokes the recent polls which show a rise in republican sentiment, especially among the youngest: “The time has come”.