Anti-monarchists celebrate Republic Day for 1st time in UK

By Behlul Cetinkaya

LONDON (AA) — For the first time, anti-monarchists in the UK celebrated "Republic Day" on Sunday, the same day as King Charles' first coronation anniversary.​​​​​​​

Representatives of republican groups from Norway and the Netherlands also attended the Republic Day celebration held at Trafalgar Square in London.

The event was organized by anti-monarchist group Republic, whose members carried banners and signs saying "Not my king" and "Abolish the monarchy."

"You have public days every year, on this anniversary of the coronation, on this anniversary of Charles being anointed our head of state, refusing to stand for election and we will keep on going until the monarchy is abolished," Graham Smith, leader of Republic, said at the celebration.

Smith added the group wanted "better, fairer, and more equitable democracy."

Arguing that the members of Britain's Royal Family do not deserve the positions they hold, he said that when the royals leave, the country would elect parliamentarians and presidents its people could be proud of.

"We are responsible for those decisions because we might get it wrong. Yes, you might choose someone who is no good, but then we can choose someone else later," he added.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar