The sovereign of the United Kingdom, King Charles III – Spetteguless.it
The visit of a British monarch to Australia rarely goes unnoticed, but this time the welcome took on a completely unexpected, almost dramatic tone. There Aboriginal Senator Lidia Thorpewith a decisive attitude and biting words, shook up the official journey of King Charles and his wife Camilla, with a protest that brought to the surface tensions that had never subsided between the country’s colonial history and the present. It was their second day at Canberraand the atmosphere, full of protocol and formality, was distorted by the senator’s bright and direct tones. In front of a surprised audience, Thorpe claimed a right to belonging and justice, accusing the British monarchy of “genocide” towards indigenous populations.
King Charles III during a public event – Spetteguless.it
Among the elegant halls of the Commonwealth Parliament, this episode raised an issue which, like a shadow, still accompanies relations between England and Australia today. “You have committed genocide against our people, give us back our land!”thundered Thorpe, as he approached the dais where the king, shortly before, had finished a speech that was intended to be conciliatory and respectful. A reconciliation speech? Perhaps, but the Aboriginal senator’s words marked a breaking point. Thorpe, with his voice full of emotion and resentment, continued with even more incisive words, pointing the finger at the monarch and asking “Give us back what you stole. Our bones, our skulls, our children, our people.”. His protest resonated not only in the room, but in the hearts of every spectator.
While the security officers attempted to restore calm by removing the senator, Thorpe’s imagewrapped in possum fur, one of the symbolic animals of Australia, left an impression. With one last cry “You are not one of us. Stop your holidays”Thorpe concluded his passionate protest, leaving an indelible mark on a visit that many will remember as a watershed moment. His figure, determined and proud, captured attention, recalling the history and rights of a people still seeking justice and reconciliation.
Faced with such a heated protest, the speech of King Charles it appeared almost faded. A few sentences before the interruption, the king had spoken of Aboriginal people, describing how their “ancient wisdom” had “shaped and enriched” him. Respectful words, certainly, but perhaps inadequate to heal such deep wounds. The tension was palpable, and Thorpe’s intervention transformed an occasional speech into a collective reflection on Australia’s colonial past. The appeal to indigenous wisdom it seemed almost ironic in light of the accusations floating around the room. Charles, traveling to Australia for the first time since his cancer diagnosis, faced not only the personal challenge of the disease, but also the complexity of the historical and political relationship between the monarchy and Australia.
Their arrival in Canberra was also marked by the words of welcome from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the leader of the opposition Peter Duttonwho expressed gratitude to the British royals for their support of the Australian people. Albanese expressed particular recognition of the respect shown by Charles, a significant act at a time when Australia continues to question its constitutional future and connection to the crown. Despite this moment of courtesy, Thorpe’s protest highlighted a deeper issue, which goes beyond simple diplomacy and touches the very nature of historical relationship between Australia and Great Britain.
This Carlo’s first official visit to Australia after his cancer diagnosis it will continue for nine days, also touching Samoa, but the journey was accompanied by a significant political decision. The invitation to the governors of the six Australian states, all of which are republican, was rejected as a sign of dissent, a clear signal that republican sentiment in Australia is not at all dormant. Senator Thorpe’s request to “a treaty” it has joined the memory of the “genocide” suffered by Aboriginal people during the British colonial era, a period between 1787 and 1901 in which thousands of indigenous people were killed. This episode, buried under decades of history, emerged again during Charles’ visit, reminding the world of how complex the relationship between the Australian nation and its indigenous roots is.
History shows us that Australia’s formal independence from Great Britain never completely erased its connection with the monarchy. The attempt to transform Australia into a republic, which took place in 1999 through a referendum, failed. And again in 2023, a new proposal to create an Indigenous Consultative Assembly met with the same outcome. The reality is that, beyond modern changes and the country’s political growth, Australia remains a federal parliamentary monarchyone of the member states of the Commonwealth, and the figure of the king continues to represent a symbol that some consider linked to the colonial past.
King Charles III official photo – Spetteguless.it
The Thorpe episode represents not only an individual protest, but also a collective demand for justice and reconciliation. The senator’s cry and her passionate protest embody the desire of a part of Australia to finally see indigenous rights recognised. This controversy brought to light a wound that has never truly healed, a latent tension that still accompanies the relations between the Australian people and the British monarchy today. Thorpe’s protest it has thus become a symbol, a reminder of history, but also a challenge for the future: reconciling the past and trying to build a new relationship, based on respect and mutual understanding.
As Charles’s journey continues, Australia and the world will watch whether more moments of reflection and discussion emerge, or whether the King’s visit ends without further surprises. The presence of the British monarch in Australia, while having diplomatic significance, also represents an opportunity to rethink the role of the monarchy in the country and reflect on how history and modern aspirations can find a meeting point.
