As the country entered a period of ‘national mourning’ following the death of Queen Elizabeth II – in which businesses, large-scale events and food banks dependent on the good-will of monarchy-sympathizing segments of the population closed – a handful of individuals around the country were arrested for expressing benign forms of anti-monarchist sentiment. New Internationalist contributor Symon Hill was arrested in Oxford for ‘disturbing the peace’ after he shouted ‘who elected him?’ in reference to the new British monarch, King Charles III. Another man was followed and questioned by police officials after holding a blank placard.
The new King will be presiding over a people struggling to heat their homes in the face of a burgeoning cost-of-living crisis. But while ordinary people have been skirted off to police stations for stating facts, Prince Andrew, who settled a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a minor, will continue as a counsellor of state. In principle, he could be delegated to attend meetings with elected politicians, and receive new ambassadors.
