Despite the wave of sympathy caused by the cancer that afflicted Charles III. suffered, they are not giving up: British Republicans say they are more determined than ever in their fight against the monarchy.
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Opponents of the royal family remain a minority in the United Kingdom, but the death of the hugely popular and untouchable Elizabeth II in September 2022, which led to the accession to the throne of an already elderly and unpopular ruler, gave them visibility. new.
The Republic Movement, which advocates for an elected head of state, believes last year marked a turning point unthinkable two years ago, with an influx of members and small demonstrations on the sidelines of the royal family's trips.
And he refutes the idea that this momentum will be interrupted by the announcement in early February of the unspecified cancer that the 75-year-old sovereign is suffering from, even if the disease could theoretically complicate the attacks.
“We are of course aware of the fact that he has cancer, but the problem lies within the institution,” Graham Smith, the president of the republic, told AFP. “These are questions that go beyond just people.”
For Graham Smith, the “excessive” media coverage only strengthens his case to the public. He even believes that all major news related to the royal family, whether births, deaths, weddings or coronations, benefits the anti-monarchists: they put the royal family in the foreground and the British like what they see less and less.
The long-marginalized Republicans have launched a major public campaign since the death of Elizabeth II.
They also took advantage of the massive suppression of their demonstration during the coronation of Charles III against their will. last May. Graham Smith and five other activists were arrested ahead of their rally, sparking fierce criticism of London police, who are taking the movement to court.
Republic speaks of “massive” growth: in 2023 it raised 600,000 pounds sterling (700,000 euros), more than double that of 2022 and almost six times more than 2021. The number of paying members has reached 10,000 people.
Young people suspicious
“For years royalists have been repeating that the public supports the monarchy, that is clearly no longer the case,” asserts Graham Smith.
He cites two recent polls showing that less than half of Britons support the monarchy, although that system remains preferred to an elected head of state.
“There are positives for the royal family,” said Gideon Skinner, director of policy research at the Ipsos Institute in the United Kingdom. “People generally think that King Charles is doing better than expected (…) and that the Prince and Princess of Wales (William, heir, and Kate, editor's note) are still very popular .”
However, the pollster emphasizes that the youngest people feel disconnected from the royal family and are clearly positive about a republic.
Nearly a quarter of 18- to 34-year-olds say they support an elected head of state, compared with 15% of those over 55, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos in September.
For Graham Smith, this demographic trend is reinforced by the scandals of recent years, such as the sexual assault allegations against Prince Andrew, the king's brother, which he denies and which led to a financial settlement.
He also notes concerns about the cost of the monarchy, with an opulent coronation last year at a time of high inflation. This is despite comments about Charles' alleged desire to limit the royal lifestyle, and despite defenders of the institution asserting that it pays more than it costs and plays a significant role as a soft power for the country.
The Republican is no longer afraid to see William and Kate, who are currently recovering from abdominal surgery and benefiting from the increased attention due to the royal's illness.
Despite the apparent popularity of the forty-year-olds, he points out that they tend to make fewer public appearances than other “royals” and that many Brits surveyed have no opinion about the couple: “When they arrive at the center of the world.” Be careful, these problems become apparent.