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For all the passionate royalists who camped out on the Mall and are dressed head-to-toe in Union Jacks, there is inevitably a crowd of people not so pleased about the whole coronation situation.
For one thing, big day is costing a pretty hefty amount of taxpayer cash. What’s more, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, research has shown that support for the royal family is dwindling, with a recent YouGov poll finding that more than half of respondents did not agree that today’s event should be funded by the government. #NotMyKing is currently trending on Twitter and a bunch of anti-monarchists protesting close to the procession route in Trafalgar Square have already been arrested.
Here’s everything we know about the anti-monarchy protests – and whether or not it would actually be possible to abolish the royal family.
RECOMMENDED: Here’s the full schedule for the King’s coronation
Why are there anti-monarchy protests?
Well, a lot of people believe the monarchy to be an outdated institution. Many argue that the royal family no longer has a place in our country, particularly during a cost of living crisis and rising inequality across the country.
Last year it cost £102.4 million in taxpayer money to fund staffing costs for the monarch’s official household, maintenance of the royal palaces in England, and travel and royal engagements and visits. Today’s coronation is estimated to be costing anything between £100 million and £250 million.
What do the Not My King protesters want?
They’d like to see the UK become a republic, meaning that they want to abolish the monarchy and replace it with an elected, democratic head of state. Anti-monarchist group Republic say that instead of the King they want an individual chosen by the people, not to run the government but to represent the UK independently of politicians.
I do not want to be a "subject" of the Crown. I am a citizen!
— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) May 5, 2023
I owe neither deference nor allegiance to a king who was imposed on me without my consent - or the consent of the British people
Abolish the monarchy & all feudal titles!
Time to elect our head of state!#NotMyKIng pic.twitter.com/KZNi8sIEiG
Instead of a coronation we want an election. Instead of Charles we want a choice. It’s that simple. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy
— Republic (@RepublicStaff) May 6, 2023
Wearing all black today to mourn the loss of our precious tax money that could be spent on the NHS but is actually being spent on an old man getting a gold hat put on his head. Fucking embarrassing and depressing. #abolishthemonarchy #notmyking
— 🎃abc🎃 (@YessicaHaircut_) May 6, 2023
Can the monarchy be abolished?
The only way the monarchy could actually be abolished is through an act of parliament, which would probably require a public referendum. The legislation would also have to be signed by the sovereign. Greece and Bulgaria are both examples of where this has happened. Of course, the other (extremely unlikely) option would be an all-out revolution.
Read more: here’s everything you need to know about the King’s coronation.
Plus: what time is King Charles’s coronation and how long is it?
Oh, and: the coronation concert line-up has finally been revealed.