By Kit Heren @yung_chuvak
This incident followed an Australian senator of Aboriginal descent who heckled King Charles during a speech in Canberra. The senator later shared a controversial cartoon depicting the monarch beheaded.
As Wharton protested, a large crowd gathered, with some chanting pro-monarchy slogans and waving Union Jacks in support of the King. Cheers erupted when police took Wharton into custody.
Previously, Wharton had protested at a Sydney church during the royal couple’s visit, urging King Charles to begin a process of decolonization and negotiate reparations for the impact of colonization on Aboriginal people.
During the royal visit, Senator Lidia Thorpe also confronted the King, accusing him of destroying her land and demanding reparations and a treaty. Her remarks included calls for recognition of Aboriginal sovereignty and a plea for the return of land.
Charles, who serves as the monarch of Australia and 13 other Commonwealth nations, has stated that the decision regarding the monarchy rests with the Australian people. A 1999 referendum favored retaining the monarchy, but discussions about Australia’s future as a republic continue.