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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Katie Weston

Queen Camilla's son defends 'right to protest' at Coronation amid worrying plans

Camilla's son has spoken out on planned protests taking place at King Charles' Coronation next month.

Tom Parker Bowles told podcast hosts that Brits "live in a free country" where "we are all allowed to have different views", as well as a "right to protest".

The food critic also discussed whether it was strange to think of his mum as Queen, saying: "Not really because she's still my mother... I think change happens, but I don't care what anyone says."

His comments follow reports that Charles is set to face chants of 'Not my King' on May 6, as an anti-monarchy group stages the largest protest action in its history.

Graham Smith, Republic's chief executive, said activists will wear yellow T-shirts and carry yellow placards in groups along the procession route, and also gather for a major demonstration in Trafalgar Square on the big day.

He has vowed to make the peaceful demonstration unmissable and loud, but said they were not staging any Extinction Rebellion-style stunts because "it's not a good look" and "doesn't help the cause".

More than 1,350 people had pledged to take part so far, he added.

The food critic also discussed whether it was strange to think of his mum as Queen (The News Agents podcast)

Speaking on whether he is worried about the protesters, Mr Parker Bowles told The News Agents podcast: "Everyone has the right to think what they want.

"Going back to Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rebellion and republican whatever it is, everyone has a right to their say.

"We live in thankfully a free country… if people want to protest that's their right to do so… If people protest, people protest. You're allowed to protest.

"We all are allowed to have different views and I think that makes for an interesting and civilized country."

It comes after Republic boss Mr Smith branded the crowning a "pointless piece of theatre" which will cost tens of millions of pounds and be a "slap in the face" for people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Camilla with her son Tom and daughter Laura in March 2015 (Getty Images)

He told The Times: "Anti-monarchy protests will carry one simple message: Do you want Charles or do you want a choice?"

Protesters have already targeted Charles at recent public appearances, with their "Not my King" signs and shouts of "Why are you wasting money on a Coronation Charles?"

The group is asking people to sign a pledge to protest and to add their voices to their call for the UK to become a republic and have an elected head of state.

"On Saturday 6th May the eyes of the world will be on the coronation," its website says. "This is the moment we make our objection loud, visible and impossible to ignore."

The campaigners have written to every police force in the UK including the Metropolitan Police asking for reassurances they will not interfere in "peaceful and meaningful" protests against the monarchy.

Anti-monarchy protesters at York Minster on April 6 (UK Press via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a YouGov survey - carried out just over two weeks before Charles and the Queen Consort are set to be crowned - has found that 51% of adults questioned believe the ceremony should not be funded by the Government.

Almost a third – 32% – said it should, while around 18% did not know.

The King’s Coronation is set to cost many millions of pounds - and it falls to taxpayers to foot the bill.

But with no budget revealed for the historic national state occasion, and the Government not commenting on the expected total cost, the amount of public funds due to be spent remains unknown.

Taking place amid the cost-of-living crisis facing the UK and against a backdrop of strikes by doctors, teachers and other public servants over pay, the event has been branded a waste of taxpayers’ money by critics.

Some unconfirmed predictions suggest Operation Golden Orb could cost the nation between £50 million and £100 million.

The late Elizabeth II’s coronation cost £912,000 in 1953 – £20.5 million in today’s money – while Charles’s grandfather George VI was crowned at a cost of £454,000 in 1937 – worth £24.8 million in 2023 and the most expensive coronation of the last 300 years.

Listen to the full interview on The News Agents podcast this evening on Global Player.

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