On Saturday, a protest described by organizers as the "first-ever" took place within Buckingham Palace. The protest was organized by Republic, Britain's largest anti-monarchy group, and involved a group of local activists from various parts of the UK. They initially visited the palace as tourists before gathering in the Grand Hall.
Protesters inside the palace wearing T-shirts stating "Not My King" were captured in a photo released by the group. In a statement, Republic mentioned that this protest is part of a series of actions to advocate for discussion on the monarchy's future.
Six activists from the group were temporarily detained by security personnel and subsequently escorted out of the front gate, according to the group. Buckingham Palace declined to provide any statement regarding the security issue, while CNN has contacted the Metropolitan Police of London for a comment.
The protest was hailed by the organizers as an impressive demonstration of citizens boldly expressing their resistance against hereditary power within the monarchy.
In a statement, the group's chief executive, Graham Smith, referred to King Charles III as an untouchable monarch, emphasizing that he should not be exempt from criticism and does not receive the same respect as his mother did during her reign.
Smith stated that Republic will persist in protesting against the monarchy across the nation, with the upcoming demonstration scheduled for the state opening of parliament on November 7. Additionally, the group played a role in coordinating anti-monarchy protests during King Charles' coronation ceremony earlier this year.