During his visit to Australia, King Charles faced a challenging confrontation from Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe. On October 21, Thorpe made it clear to him that he was “not her king” and demanded a treaty between Australia’s First Nations and the government.
Following King Charles’ significant speech at Australia’s Parliament House, Thorpe directly accused the monarch of being complicit in the “genocide” against Indigenous people. She expressed her strong disapproval by stating that Charles was not their sovereign and demanded the return of their land, which she claimed had been wrongfully taken from them.
“You are not our King, you are not Sovereign… you have committed atrocities against our people. Give us our land back. Give us back what you stole from us… Our babies, Our people. You destroyed our land,” she passionately exclaimed.
Thorpe continued her demands by calling for a treaty between the First Nations people and the government, emphasizing that the land did not belong to the crown. As she was escorted out of the hall, she reiterated the need for a treaty to address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous Australians.
Throughout the Royal tour, King Charles and Camilla encountered smaller protests from groups supporting First Nations’ resistance to colonization. Protesters were seen displaying banners reading “decolonize” at various events.
Despite the confrontation, sources indicated that King Charles remained composed and calm. Earlier in the day, the royal couple received a warm welcome at the national war memorial, where they engaged with hundreds of well-wishers, including a sneezing alpaca, in a light-hearted moment.
In his speech to the Australian parliament, King Charles reflected on his long-standing relationship with the country, dating back to his teenage years. He spoke about the profound impact his time spent studying in the Outback had on him, shaping his life in meaningful ways.
“Throughout my life, Australia’s First Nations peoples have graciously shared their stories and cultures with me. I have been deeply enriched by their traditional wisdom,” Charles expressed.
