King Charles III faced protests during a speech to Australia’s Parliament as Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe shouted, "You are not my king" and demanded the return of stolen land.
Thorpe, a DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, interrupted the royal speech, highlighting the ongoing fight for justice and recognition for Australia’s First Nations people.
King Charles acknowledged the deep history of Australia's First Nations, praising their cultural contributions, while also recognizing the lasting impact of colonialism.
– The royal visit to Canberra included a traditional Aboriginal welcoming ceremony, yet many Indigenous Australians viewed their presence as a symbol of colonial oppression. –
The British colonization of Australia led to the displacement and massacre of Indigenous people, a legacy that continues to impact their descendants through systemic racism.
Thorpe has consistently opposed the British monarchy, calling for a treaty and greater acknowledgment of First Nations sovereignty, which was never ceded to the Crown.
During her swearing-in ceremony in 2022, Thorpe protested the monarchy by referring to Queen Elizabeth II as “the colonizing Her Majesty” and raised her fist in defiance.
Protesters also gathered at the Australian War Memorial, with one man arrested, symbolizing the ongoing resistance against colonial symbols represented by the British monarchy.
The Greens party acknowledged the King’s visit as a reminder of colonial trauma, calling for him to actively support First Nations justice, truth-telling, and reconciliation.
The Australian Monarchist League criticized Thorpe’s actions as a "childish demonstration," demanding her resignation for disrespecting the royal presence in Australia.