King Charles Heckled by Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe During Australia Visit

During King Charles‘s five-day visit to Australia, a significant and contentious moment arose when Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted a royal reception at Parliament House in Canberra. As King Charles concluded his address to members of Parliament, Senator Thorpe, a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights, made her way to the stage and began shouting.

Thorpe, who is of Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung descent, yelled, “This is not your country,” and “You are not our king.” She also demanded a treaty and accused the monarchy of appropriating Aboriginal territory and committing genocide against Indigenous peoples. Her statements included, “You stole from us,” and “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us — our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.”

Security personnel promptly intervened, escorting Senator Thorpe out of the hall as she continued to assert her views. Her voice echoed in the foyer with the phrase, “Fuck the colony.”

Prior to the incident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to Parliament House, expressing gratitude for their support during various times. Albanese praised the monarch’s involvement in issues such as climate change and reconciliation, highlighting the evolving relationship between Australia and the Crown.

Sergeant Thorpe had earlier issued a statement advocating for Australia to transition into a republic and to forge a treaty with First Nations peoples. She emphasized that the Crown had invaded Indigenous territory and committed acts of genocide, and that any progression towards a republic must include a treaty to address these injustices.

The incident was part of a broader context of protests during the royal visit. Earlier in the day, Thorpe had also been among protesters at the Australian War Memorial, where she briefly tussled with police. The Australian Monarchist League subsequently called for her to step down due to her protest.