On his second official day of engagements in Australia, King Charles III was met with an unexpected protest when independent senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted his address at Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra. As the King Charles III concluded his speech and rejoined Queen Camilla on stage, Thorpe, an Aboriginal Australian senator from Victoria, shouted, “You are not my King Charles III ” and made claims of genocide against Indigenous Australians. The outburst lasted about a minute before security escorted her from the assembly.
Thorpe, a long-time advocate for a treaty between Australia’s government and its First Nations people, used the opportunity to criticize the monarchy’s colonial history. “This is not your land, you are not my King Charles III ,” she yelled, expressing the view that Indigenous Australians never ceded their land or sovereignty to the British Crown. Australia, unlike other ex-British colonies, does not have a formal treaty with its Indigenous peoples. Thorpe later told the BBC that her protest aimed to send a clear message to the King Charles III , urging him to push the Australian Parliament to discuss a peace treaty with the country’s First Peoples.
The ceremony proceeded without further incident, and the royal couple continued their engagements, meeting with hundreds of Australians who had gathered outside Parliament House. Many of the attendees, including schoolchildren and local politicians, had waited eagerly to see the King Charles III and Queen, braving the intense Canberra sun. Despite the protest, many expressed their excitement at the royal visit, with some stating that the Royal Family remains an integral part of Australian culture.
Thorpe’s protest touched on Australia’s complex history with its Indigenous communities, an issue that was expected to arise during the royal visit but became more prominent with her intervention. Earlier in the day, the King Charles III and Queen were greeted by a traditional Ngunnawal welcome at Parliament House, where King Charles acknowledged the importance of Indigenous wisdom in shaping his experiences. During his speech, the King praised Australia’s ongoing efforts toward reconciliation, recognizing the courage and hope that has guided the country through its challenging history.
While Buckingham Palace has not issued an official comment regarding Thorpe’s protest, a Palace source noted that the King Charles III and Queen were deeply moved by the large crowds who came out to support them in Canberra, emphasizing the positive reception they received throughout their visit.
