Graffiti appearing to carry an anti-monarchy message has appeared near a school along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Hundreds of children returning to school and nursery after the King’s Coronation bank holiday weekend were greeted with the words: ‘Eat the rich, end kings’.
The message was seen yesterday morning at the Whitehall entrance to the busy cycle path, on a zebra crossing in close proximity to Whitehall Primary School and The Limes Nursery. It is used daily by many children and parents as well as cyclists, and the graffiti remained in place this morning (Wednesday).
It comes just days after the coronation of King Charles III, which prompted some protests across the UK, including in Bristol. It's not the first time provocative anti-royalist graffiti has appeared in Bristol - back in 2020, graffiti in St Judes about Prince Andrew made national headlines and was swiftly removed by the council. The wording became the title of a song released during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations two years later.
READ MORE: Protest outside as Bristol Cathedral screens Coronation
While 'Eat the Rich' has been used since the 1980s as the title for songs, a film, a book and has become a clothing brand in recent years, the linking of the phrase with an anti-monarchist sentiment takes it back to it's 18th century origins during French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI. The French political philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau is believed to originally coined the phrase after stating, "when the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich".
Emma, a parent who has children in the nearby school and also uses the path for cycling, said she did not see the graffiti when she passed by on Monday night. She said that she appreciates “the provocations the railway path graffiti offers". The mum-of-two, who regularly uses the path, added: "I've seen a lot of anti-Tory graffiti on the path lately but that's the first one I've seen related to the Coronation.
"It's good to have diversity of opinions on display because most of the mainstream media is pro-monarchy. I was pleased to see today that the Met Police are apologising over arresting protesters over the weekend which was deeply disappointing to see in democracy."
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said it was "symbolic of the openness of a city associated with graffiti" but added that “it is a little bit controversial as it’s the school’s zebra crossing”. He said he expected it to be erased by the council “in due time".
His daughter and her friend, who both attend the primary school nearby, were more supportive of the political graffiti. One of the nine-year-old primary school pupils said “there is nothing wrong with it” while the other said that the person who wrote it was “just expressing an opinion".
There were no arrests reported following the small peaceful protest took place outside Bristol Cathedral on Saturday but the Metropolitan Police arrested 52 protesters in central London over the weekend including the leader of the anti-monarchist group, Republic. Graham Smith, who was detained for 16 hours following his arrest on the morning of the King's Coronation, is now considering taking legal action against the police.
Bristol City Council has been approached for comment.
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