Not My King: Anti-monarchy group holds protest in London

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – A group of people on Monday held an anti-monarchy protest in London, demanding the monarchy to be abolished.

The protest, organized by the Republic, took place near Westminster Abbey amid Commonwealth Day, the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1977.

The group carried banners reading "Not My King," and chanted anti-monarchy slogans during the demonstration. "Down with the Crown," "Racist Royal Family" were among other signs the protesters carried.

Graham Smith, head of the Republic group, told Anadolu that they want Britain to be a democratic country.

"We ought to be presenting ourselves, as a modern, free and fair democracy where we are all citizens and no one is above the law," he said.

Smith asserted that the monarchy is actually damages the "country's brand" and makes the UK looks like stuck in the past.

"Instead of coronation we should be having an election and instead of (King) Charles, we should be having a choice," he added.

Smith also said the coronation ceremony slated for May 6 is going to cost hundreds of millions of pounds.