Overview
- Republic, the UK group that campaigns to replace the monarchy with an elected head of state, led a march from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace in central London on Saturday with protesters calling to abolish the monarchy.
- Reports differed on turnout, with The Independent describing dozens of demonstrators and GB News estimating about 100 participants.
- Speakers including writer Otto English, former Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie, and ex-Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker argued that inherited power harms democracy and urged voters to choose a head of state.
- Republic’s leader Graham Smith said the death of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III’s coronation spurred rapid growth in the group’s staffing and public actions, and he called this the third event in an expanding campaign.
- February polling by Ipsos cited in coverage showed support for King Charles at 46% after a nine-point drop since November, and only 40% of respondents said the Royal Family had become more transparent.