The Royal Family have always had to deal with protests against the monarchy, even when Queen Elizabeth II was in power. However, since her passing, it seems as though the protests have been getting increasingly frequent—especially after two incidents where King Charles was egged by protesters during his walkabouts.
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Kate Middleton and Prince William's Cornwall controversy
Prince William and Kate Middleton received similar treatment during their first official visit to Cornwall as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on 9 February 2023.
The couple were visiting the National Maritime Museum Cornwall when they decided to do a walkabout and meet the residents who had come to see them. While most had come to wish the couple well, there was one man with a chilling message.
He turned up holding a blank piece of paper.
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A protestor was detained by police - although not arrested - after holding up a blank piece of paper as William and Kate visited Cornwall. He said:‘It’s the 21st century and we don’t need a monarchy any more.’ pic.twitter.com/AobSagxJHu
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) February 9, 2023
According to The Telegraph, the blank paper protest is a trend that emerged during the 2020 Hong Kong demonstrations. The significance of this tactic varies from person to person, but it is thought to symbolize the 'silence of dissent' and also challenges authorities to justify making arrests when nothing has actually been said.
Read also:King Charles: Prince Harry's memoir is the least of the monarch's concerns, here's why
Anti-monarchy sentiments
In the case of the man, who is assumed to be in his twenties, he was trying to make a statement about abolishing the monarchy. The police moved him away from the crowd and detained him, following which the unnamed protester said:
It’s the 21st century and we don’t need a monarchy anymore. It’s f------ ridiculous.
According to Rebecca English, Royal editor of TheDaily Mail, he was not arrested. She said in a tweet:
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police tells me: ‘A vocal male at the Royal Visit in Falmouth this afternoon was spoken to by officers and left the area. ‘There have been no arrests, nor any follow-up policing matters linked to this minor incident.’
This is not the first time that members of the Royal Family have witnessed such backlash, and nor will it be the last. In fact, Reuters reported in January 2023 that anti-monarchists had planned protests at King Charles' coronation, which took place on 6 May 2023.
Read more: King Charles' coronation could be in danger as speculation mounts he will be the last monarch
Sources used:
The Telegraph: Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Cornwall marred by ‘blank paper’ protester
BBC: China's protests: Blank paper becomes the symbol of rare demonstrations
Reuters: Anti-monarchists plan protests at coronation of Britain's King Charles
