Monarch confronted by Indigenous senator over colonial legacy
King Charles encountered unexpected dissent during his address at the Australian Parliament, when a protester shouted, "you are not my King," leaving the monarch reportedly "taken aback." The dramatic moment occurred on Monday, as part of his tour of Australia, with Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe leading the vocal protest.
Thorpe, known for her strong anti-colonial views, interrupted King Charles’s speech, calling out, "This is not your land, you are not my king," and demanding, "Give us our land back!" Her protest, which lasted nearly a minute, stunned lawmakers and dignitaries in attendance.
Ingrid Seward, a royal commentator, explained that while the King is no stranger to protests, such direct confrontations remain challenging. Thorpe, wearing an Aboriginal cape during the incident, made a powerful statement, echoing her long-standing activism for Indigenous rights. As the first Aboriginal senator representing Victoria, Thorpe’s outburst was not entirely unexpected, according to Seward, given her history of protesting colonial structures.
Seward emphasised that in a democracy like Australia, Thorpe has every right to voice her dissent, underscoring the importance of free expression in the country. Nonetheless, the protest cast an awkward shadow over the King’s speech, marking a tense moment in an otherwise significant visit.
