By Alexander Smith and Leila Shackur -
NBC News
At least 25 activists opposed to the monarchy and other protesters were arrested this Saturday on the morning of the coronation of King Carlos III.
The fact is a reminder that not everyone in Britain has been won over to the adulation of royalty that dominates television screens.
Six people from the anti-monarchy group Republic and 19 others from the environmental organization Just Stop Oil were detained by the Metropolitan Police in central London, near where Charles had been crowned, according to both groups.
For free speech campaigners and some witnesses, it was a shocking sight, even on a day when polls and anecdotes suggest apathy – rather than fervor for royalty or anti-monarchy – is the prevailing sentiment in Britain.
Protesters against the coronation of King Charles III in London, England, on May 6, 2023.Getty Images
Hours earlier, the Metropolitan Police sent a tweet in which they assured that they would "deal hard against anyone who tries to undermine this celebration."
The announcement comes after the Conservatives, Britain's ruling party, passed legislation limiting demonstrations that are considered "disruptive."
"Is this democracy?" tweeted Republic, the anti-monarchy group whose members were detained.
"So goes the right to peaceful protest," he said.
Police said Saturday on Twitter that a group of protesters had been detained on suspicion of "breaking the peace", another for "conspiring to cause public nuisance", and a third for "possessing items to cause criminal damage". ".
[See our minute-by-minute coverage of the coronation of Carlos III]
The Metropolitan Police, which is facing a crisis of public confidence after an official report in March found it to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic, declined to release details of the arrests.
"While the whole world is focused on a billionaire with a shining crown, the government is giving its signature to projects that destroy the lives of ordinary people," said a spokeswoman for Just Stop Oil, whose actions have ranged from blockading refineries to that its activists use glue to stick to valuable works of art.
"We will continue to do everything non-violent to stop new oil and gas [projects]," spokeswoman Mel Carrington said in an email.
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One of the arrested activists, Kush Naker, 33, who is a doctor of infectious diseases in London, said: "I never thought in my life that I would be terrified that the police might arrest me for peacefully protesting in the UK. But that It's the state we live under now."
It didn't take long for the hashtag "North Korea" to trend on British Twitter, where people compared the heavy-handedness of their rulers to autocratic communist dictatorship.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, which is generally less royalist than England, thousands of supporters of Scottish independence marched through the streets of Glasgow, some of them chanting "You can put the crown up your c..."
Apathy, the state of mind that seems to prevail
The most ardent opponents of royalty are not representative of the majority of modern Britons.
But neither are they, according to recent polls, the avid supporters of the monarchy who lined the avenue leading to Buckingham Palace and cheered King Charles and Queen Camilla as they rode by in a golden carriage.
The prevailing mood seems to be apathy.
[The Kings make their first tour of London with an imposing military parade]
Pollster YouGov conducted a poll of 3,000 adults last month in which 35% said they didn't care "much" about the coronation and 29% said they didn't care "at all."
Meanwhile, general support for the monarchy has "slumped to a new record high," a study by the independent National Center for Social Study revealed last month.
For many, the opulence of royalty is a tasteless juxtaposition with what is really going on in modern Britain: the economic hardship for millions that dealt a heavy blow to the Conservative Party in local elections this week.
Perhaps prompted by grim prognoses, Charles's lower popularity than his mother's, or a combination of both, royal fever hasn't gripped Britain in the same way as it did in previous events when the late queen was in power. the throne.
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Most royal experts don't think the monarchy is about to crumble.
But many believe that support, visibility and relevance are important things for members of the monarchy.
The other thing is that people look at the golden carriage, the crown jewels, which are worth millions, and the palaces and wonder: what is all this for?
Further evidence of this apathy can be seen in the dozen or more coronation-related events that have been canceled in Britain due to poor ticket demand.
That's according to a Facebook search, which is likely a small sample of the true abandoned party total.
"People like royalty, but I don't think Carlos is that popular"
Under gray skies and a light rain, a small space on London's King's Road that had been set aside for picnics remained empty until midday on Saturday.
On the A12, a busy road that connects London with the neighboring county of Essex, motorists were greeted by a hand-painted banner reading "Down with the crown."
Some 180 miles west of London, on the remote and wild west coast of Wales, hosting an event to watch the royal show in a bar seemed like a doddle, particularly after the popularity of a similar event to view the Queen's Jubilee. last year.
The Aberaeron Yacht Club's plan was to celebrate a traditional "high tea by the sea" — made up of sandwiches, breads and, of course, that quintessential British gin-based cocktail called Pimms — all for £17 (about $21).
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"Limited tickets are available, so book early to avoid disappointment!" read the sign.
But it was not the case.
"We put out an ad, but I don't think we got more than a dozen confirmations," said Amanda Harvey, 59, the club's waitress.
"People like royalty, but I don't think Charles is that popular. The Queen's jubilee last year was sold out, this time it was different."
All around Britain, the streets were festooned with union pennants and realistic displays in shop windows, but it was less decorated than at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last year.
There have been more than 600 street celebrations, according to the coronation's official website.
But many of these revelries seemed more like an excuse to celebrate a long weekend and share a drink with the neighbors, with only passing mentions of Carlos in the event flyers.
