Miles of queuing to reach Westminster and Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, and all over the streets of London, her face. We find it on the windows of supermarkets, banks, in cafes, in Indian restaurants with its photo lit by candlelight, and even when we open an application to order food. “I don’t think it’s over the top to have all these tributes right now“, comments Anita, a Londoner. “She was a lovely woman, so I think it’s normal! And many people think the same“, she continues.
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A lot of people maybe, but not everyone, and especially not Richard. “It’s way too much ! It doesn’t make sense, the monarchy is coming to an end, it’s over, really. She was the last monarch“, he asserts with confidence. And when we talk to him about Charles III, he is not much more excited: “Charles… well. It’s time to wake up and get it over with.“
When he walks in the streets of London, Nic Lawley, activist of “Labour for a Republic”, the republican branch within the Labor Party, almost wants to close his eyes: “It feels like North Korea! Everywhere in London, you only see the Queen, in the shops, the bus stops, on TV, it’s too much!“, he gets carried away.
“It’s a problem in this country: nobody gives voice to the Republicans, nothing in the media to express our opinion, to create the debate that is necessary to have more supporters.”
The Republican deplores this invisibility, but he wants to believe that the popularity of Prince Charles, now Charles III, well below that of his mother, will be able to benefit the movement. “I don’t need to explain to the French why we don’t need a monarchy anymore, it’s rather up to them to explain it to the English. The royal family collects taxes, millions! It’s delusional, especially at the moment with the crisis that the country is going through”launches Nic Lawley.
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“In addition Charles is not as popular as Queen Elizabeth and we have seen him getting angry in front of the cameras recently. What must it look like behind the scenes! I think there are going to be big changes in the future and republicanism is going to rise.”he secretly hopes with this change of monarch.
But this analysis is not shared by all observers, such as Robert Hazell. This professor of constitutional law at University College London “do not believe“to the abolition of the monarchy.”It’s just that according to the polls King Charles is less popular than his mother or his son. But still, support for the monarchy as an institution will not drop.”he believes.
“No one sees much advantage in becoming a Republic. Many of the countries in the world that are the most advanced democracies are monarchies.”
Robert Hazell, Professor of Constitutional Lawat franceinfo
Last May, only two out of ten Britons wanted to switch to a republican regime.
English Republicans annoyed by tributes to Queen Elizabeth II – Farida Nouar’s report
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