The king Charles of England has landed in Australia. He arrived on Friday. It is no pleasure visit. The king has come here as the head of state of Australia. Even in 2024, the British monarch is seen as the king of Australia. This situation is quite awkward for most Australians.
The trip started off well. King Charles received a good welcome. He met key leaders and monarch-loving people. People were quite excited to see him. That was, however, when the tone of the visit changed while he was visiting the Australian Parliament.
Heated Moments in Parliament
An Australian senator once visited parliament to make some powerful statements. Her name is Lidia Thorpe. She is an Indigenous Australian. She is not happy about King Charles and the British monarchy. Thorpe yelled, “Give us what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people! You destroyed our land!”
She was pulled out by the police as she mumbled to them, “You are not my king!” This has become a daring action. Millions witnessed as she stood for what she believed in. Thorpe received hate due to her protest. Some people have called her rude and humiliating. Some people believe that she was really courageous for having said it.

History of Protests by Thorpe
This is not the first time that Thorpe has appeared in the headlines. When she took her oath to become a senator in 2022, she was seen calling the “colonizing Queen” Queen Elizabeth II. It is through this that we establish how she perceives the British monarchy. Thorpe intends to draw attention to concerns relating to Indigenous Australians. She appears to hold the view that the monarchy created a lot of damage.
According to Thorpe, this is all about truth-telling. She focuses on raising awareness about the concerns of Indigenous people not only in Australia but around the world. Many view them as being taken over and their lands seized. Thorpe is protesting to show remembrance for those who suffered.
Mixed Reactions to the Protest
Different people have different opinions on the issue of Thorpe’s actions. Some individuals appear to support her. According to them, protesting the monarchy is important. A leader from a British group named Republic said it is worth the Royals facing protests. The group seeks the end of the monarchy in the UK as some do in Australia.

Another pro-republican is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He believes Australia should not have a British monarch as a head of state but believes that this cannot be done without a referendum. A referendum is a vote in which the public decides on an important issue. However, currently, most Australians are not interested in holding a referendum.
The Cost of a Referendum
A referendum can very costly. For many Australians, there is a cost of living crisis. The government is acutely aware of that and of the fact that the current situation would make a referendum considered money spent to no avail. It waits until people appear to be more in favour of the proposition. In the past, a 1999 referendum was doing so poorly. It actually extended the monarchy’s control by 25 years.
Future of the Monarchy in Australia
For now, King Charles is the head of state. He did not work for it. He got it through the will of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Even if he does not care about losing his position, he will experience more protests in the ranks of those like Thorpe. For the majority of people, the yesteryear is not forgotten, and the tragic events that took place among the natives are unforgettable.

Of course, the interest will evolve as King Charles continues with the rest of his tour and whether he can respond in any ways to these protests. The legacy of the monarchy is complex in Australia. Many people feel strongly about it, and the discussions are far from over.
In conclusion, the visit of King Charles III to Australia epitomizes the many unending tensions existing between the monarchy and Indigenous Australians. For Lidia Thorpe, a protest symbolized a reminder of past times and the call for recognition and justice. The future of the monarchy within Australia is unclear.