Anti-monarchy campaigners blast Charles' 'sham' speech
Following Prime Minister Mark Carney's success in the recent election, Charles was invited to deliver the throne speech at the Canadian parliament's opening on Tuesday — the first time a royal has done so in almost 50 years.
The speech focused on Canada remaining 'strong and free' in the wake of annexation talks from Trump, and has garnered criticism from the Scottish Greens and campaign group OurRepublic over displays of hypocrisy.
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Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: 'Having a state-subsidised royal family is unjustifiable in 2025. With the cost of living crisis still wreaking havoc on people's lives, the NHS on its knees and austerity damaging public services, we should not be funneling hundreds of millions of pounds to the already super-rich royals.
'This antiquated system has no place in a modern democracy. Scotland would be better off as an independent republic.
'Indeed, opinion polls show more and more people in our nation are coming to this conclusion. It's for every country to make that choice on their own terms, but there's strong support for an elected head of state in Canada too.
'The public are growing increasingly tired of handing the royal family public money on a platter and allowing them to hoard our nation's land and natural resources. By redistributing their wealth and putting public money where it belongs — into public services — we can tackle inequality and truly empower the people of Scotland.'
Latest YouGov opinion polls show favourability scores for the royal family in Scotland considerably lower than in England and Wales; King Charles had seven points out of 100, with the royal family in general scoring negative one and the institution of the monarchy as a whole negative seven.
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Tristan Grayford, co-founder of monarchy abolition campaign group OurRepublic, said: '[Charles] wants both to appear as a symbol of Canadian independence from the United States, all whilst back at home preparing the banquet tables for an unprecedented second State visit for the American president threatening Canada with annexation.
'The image of Charles as the great diplomat is a sham. There are no values or purpose behind his visits to sit on gold-leafed thrones around the world other than to cling to the last remnants of his personal power and status.
'Not satisfied with lining his billionaire pockets whilst demanding we pay for his extravagant parties here, now the Canadians have to pay up for his trips to play emperor abroad — all while he prepares to host a wannabe emperor who has his eyes on Canadian soil.'
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