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The organiser: Republic
Originally created by a small group of republicans in London in 1983, Republic was reinvented as a campaigning pressure group in 2006, when it became formally set up as a limited company (Republic Campaign Ltd) with a board of directors and executive office. Republic campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy and its replacement with a directly elected head of state. -
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Increasin g number of supporters
During the period between the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2010 and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012, the group's supporters increased from around 9,000 to around 30,000, with around 500 new members being gained at the time of the 2011 Royal Wedding. -
2011 Royal Wedding
In advance of the wedding the tourist organisation VisitBritain said that the event would be good for tourism. In response, Republic made a freedom of information request for VisitBritain documents which indicated that royal weddings in the past had a negative effect on tourism. Republic held an alternative street party in London at the Royal Wedding, "celebrating democracy and people power rather than inherited privilege". Republic's London event had initially been blocked by Camden Council. -
Republic published Royal Secrecy
A Report on Royal Secrecy and Power. The report argues that the "question of royal secrecy also presents a conundrum for the monarchy. In this modern world of highly connected citizens and networks that circumvent traditional sources of information continued secrecy will gradually erode public trust in the institution. Yet the fear of transparency so apparent in the palace’s behaviour is very real." -
Royal Finances Report
Republic's response to the annual royal finance reports is reported in the media. Republic published its Royal Finances Report, which estimated the total cost of the monarchy to be at least £345m, once additional costs such as royal security, revenues from the Duchies and costs to local councils had been taken into account. How much the royals really cost -
Anti-royal protest
This is the moment an anti-monarchist is led away from the Palace of Westminster by police after she held up a sign protesting King Charles’s ascension to the throne. A witness said she was not arrested and was allowed to continue her protest. -
Anti-royal protest
Symon Hill was arrested in Oxford after saying “who elected him?” during the reading of a proclamation declaring King Charles III to be the new monarch. -
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Coronation
Police arrested Republic protesters (including the organisation’s CEO) while they were unloading placards from a van. They also seized what they determined they had “reasonable grounds to believe” could be ‘lock-on’ devices (Republic explained were actually straps used to secure their placards). -
Republicans "have momentum" one year on from Charles accession
The republican movement is gaining momentum, according to the UK's largest anti-monarchy organisation. A YouGov poll showed support for the monarchy had fallen from 67% to 62% since Charles took over, while support for abolition had jumped from 20% to 26%. -
POLL: Monarchy support drops
2023 ends badly for the royals with a new Savanta poll showing peoples’ preference for having a monarchy in the UK at just 52%. At the end of the coronation year those who prefer an elected head of state has climbed to 34%. -
The future...
From the Twitter account of Republic:
🚨 🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!! On May 4th 2024, Republic will take to Trafalgar Square. It's more than a protest, it's more than a rally - it's Republic Day! We'll be revealing more details in the next few months. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy #RepublicDay
