Royal news live: Australian senator Lidia Thorpe explains furious outburst after King Charles’ speech

During his tour of Australia, the king found himself a lightning rod for republican protests, which should have been foreseen – but perhaps could have been handled more deftly by his handlers, asks Hugo Vickers:

The native senator who confronted King Charles spoke out once again to claim that the “bones and skulls” of Aboriginal people are still in the possession of the royal family.

She told Sky News hours after her appearance in Parliament: “We still have our bones and skulls in his possession or in his family’s possession. We want that back.

“We want our land back and we want your king to take some leadership and sit at the table and discuss a treaty with us.”

Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe has made headlines around the world after condemning King Charles following his reception speech in Parliament.

Ms Thorpe, an Indigenous woman from Victoria, has long advocated for a treaty between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians to recognize their autonomy and right historical wrongs.

Mrs Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung mother, grandmother, is a well-known activist for indigenous causes. However, her latest actions have been described as her most high-profile protest to date.

She became the first Indigenous woman elected to the Victorian State Parliament with the Green Party in 2017. While her seat was subsequently lost in 2018, she was pre-selected to be a senator for the party in the federal government in 2020.

When she was sworn in to parliament in 2020, she raised her hand in a black power salute. She did so while wearing a traditional possum skin cape and holding an Aboriginal message stick.

The stick was covered in 441 marks to represent the deaths of Aboriginal people known to have died following the 1991 Royal Commission into deaths in custody.

She protested again in 2022 at her re-election, describing the late Queen Elizabeth II as “the colonizing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” in her oath. Mrs Thorpe was then forced to recite her oath again with the correct words.

The causes that Ms Thorpe champions on behalf of Indigenous Australians include the reform of the prison and justice systems, environmental issues and land rights.

As he finished his speech, Senator Lidia Thorpe approached the stage and shouted for about 30 seconds, saying “this is not your country”.

“You committed genocide against our people. Give us back our land. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people,” said Thrope, an outspoken advocate for indigenous rights.

Read the full story below:

This is the moment Senator Lidia Thorpe heckles King Charles during a reception in Australia’s Parliament.

The monarch had just finished addressing lawmakers in Canberra on Monday when Ms Thorpe shouted “This is not your country. You are not my king.”

She continued to raise her voice in protest, saying “Give us back our land. Give us back what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.

“You ruined our country. Give us a treat!”

Security prevented Ms Thorpe from getting close and led her out of the chamber as the king turned to speak to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The British Prime Minister has praised the King’s “fantastic” work during his Australia tour despite cancer.

Sir Keir Starmer made the comments after Charles was lambasted by Australian senator Lidia Thorpe, who accused the king of “genocide” against her nation’s indigenous people.

“I think the King is doing a fantastic job, an incredible ambassador, not just for our country but for the whole of the Commonwealth,” Sir Keir said on Monday.

“We should remember in terms of health that he’s out there doing his public service despite, you know, the health challenges that he’s had himself — so I think he’s doing a good job,” he added.

An Australian senator who confronted King Charles in Parliament has shared a cartoon depicting the monarch beheaded on social media.

Lidia Thorpe, 51, an outspoken advocate for indigenous rights, shouted out to the king in a proud speech during his royal reception in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Monday.

She approached the stage shouting “you are not my king” and accusing the king of “committing genocide against our people” as she urged him to negotiate a treaty between Australia’s First Nations and its government.

Following her protest, the independent politician took to social media to further reiterate her stance, sharing a cartoon depicting a beheaded King Charles to her Instagram story.

The original post, shared by artist Matt Chun, was captioned with Thorpe’s words she directed at the king earlier on Monday: “You are not our king. You are not sovereign.”

Read the whole story here: