King Charles, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were met by a small group of objectors as they took part in the Maundy Thursday service in York.
The royal couple was greeted by many cheering well-wishers as they arrived at York Minster for the annual Royal Maundy service – Charles’s first since returning the throne.
However, while the mass was there to support the king and watch him take part in the Easter tradition, a handful of complainers carrying signs studying NotMyKing were also present.
According to local reports, the 20 or so protesters were booed by those around them.
The annual tradition sees the monarch attend people with commemorative coins in purses as an acknowledgment of their Christian service and the work they have done in their local communities.
The protest, conducted by Graham Smith, the CEO of the Republic campaign group, chanted “Not my King” and shouted questions at the appearing monarch about the costs of the upcoming crowning. The group described it as their large protest of the year so far.
Charles did not respond to the exception as he greeted the Dean and Archbishop of York at the door to the cathedral.
King Charles and protests
The protest on Thursday is not the first skilled by Charles since becoming monarch in September – and it doesn’t look like they are going to let up any time soon with asymmetry also planned for his coronation on 6 May.
This might seem unusual given the widespread approval of the late Queen Elizabeth across the UK and the Commonwealth. Historically, however, there has been some debate for the centenary about the role the Crown should play in British life.
On 17 March, a new youth group called ‘No More Royals’ staged an objection at Windsor Castle, during which they stepped over the rope that separates the area visitors are permitted to enter in the King’s Bedroom and took a series of photographs on the bed.
In one image the young couple kiss, and in another they pose together to study a copy of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare.
Emmanuel Macron has saved the last-minute postponement of King Charles’s state visit to France next week, saying it would not have been “serious or good sense” for it to go ahead as it skirmishes with another national day of mass strikes and social unrest.
The king had been scheduled to arrive in France on Sunday on his first state visit as monarch. He was due to visit Paris and Bordeaux before legend to Germany on Wednesday.
Asked if the cancellation was humiliating for France, the French president replied: “What would have been detestable for the British people, as well as for ourselves would have been to maintain it with (possible) incidents in the process.”
In a statement earlier in the day, the Élysée Palace said the decision to postpone the visit had been taken by the French and British governments following a telephone conversation between Macron and Charles on Friday morning after mass protests against the French government the previous day.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The king and the queen consort’s state visit to France has been postponed. Their majesties much look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”
People angry at the French head of state were continuing protests on Friday after mass demonstrations on Thursday and had arranged a further day of action next Tuesday during the royal visit.
The Élysée statement said it hoped to welcome the king “in conditions that correspond to our friendly relations” and that the visit would be rescheduled “as soon as possible”.
“From the moment last night when the unions announced a new day mobilization on Tuesday and the king’s visit was scheduled for Monday to Wednesday, I think it would not be serious and would lack a certain common sense to propose to his majesty the King and queen consort to come on a state visit in the midst of demonstrations,” Macron said.
“As we have much friendship, regard, and esteem for his majesty the King and queen consort and the British people, I took the initiative and called him to tell him the situation and the announcement of a new day of action and good sense and friendship led us to propose a postponement.”
