The anti-monarchist group, Republic has been around for several years now. As per the group’s website, Republic is ‘a membership-based pressure group campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy’. Republic’s mission statement reads:
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To achieve the abolition of the British monarchy in favour of a democratic republic.
Republic staged a protest outside Buckingham Palace the day after King Charles’ coronation in 2023. The group’s current focus is to end all secrecy between the Royal Family and the public and to have the Royal Archives made public. Indeed, the anti-monarchist group recently staged a protest outside Windsor Castle, which is where the Royal Archives are kept. Here’s everything that happened.
An anti-monarchist protest outside Windsor Castle
As reported by Express, two members of Republic were touring around Windsor Castle after having bought tickets. During their visit, the two members stood in front of the Round Tower, where the Royal Archives are.
King Charles was not on the grounds, he was at Buckingham Palace, for a brief meeting with Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
The Republic members were holding a black flag which read ‘End Royal Secrecy’. Indeed, the anti-monarchist group has accused the Royal Family of ‘hiding official records and evidence of lobbying from the general public’.
Republic member Graham Smith explained that Windsor Castle is ‘ground-zero’ for the Firm’s secret, which is why they staged their protest there. He added:
The royals are very secretive. They have persuaded the government to exempt the monarchy from freedom of information laws.
One of the group’s arguments concerns the Royal Family’s wills. According to Smith, the wills of members of the Royal Family have been kept private for years compared to everyone else’s wills, which are made public.
Republic is demanding that royal wills be made public just like everyone else’s. Smith said, as per Express:
Historic archives going back decades remain under lock and key, while the royals refuse to publish their wills.
Adding:
The royals keep their wills hidden for decades after one of them dies - while everyone else's is made public.
Graham Smith also explained that Republic will not stop protesting and that the group will continue to demand the end of Royal Family secrets:
Republic will continue to protest against the monarchy and we will continue to demand an end to royal secrecy.
What are the Royal Archives?
According to the Royal Family’s website, the Royal Archives are ‘a unique collection of documents relating to the history of the British Monarchy over the last 250 years’. The archives contain personal and official correspondence of the Kings and Queens, dating back to George III (1760-1820).
The Royal Archives were created in 1914 during the beginning of George V's reign. The need for an archive for the Royal Family’s papers became obvious after Queen Victoria’s death in 1901.
The Royal Archives was a great improvement compared to the previous manner of storing official royal documents. As per the Royal Family’s website, the royal paper used to be stored in tin trunks, cupboards and storerooms in several royal residences.
Some of the Royal Archives have been made public over the years. Indeed, to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, all 141 volumes of Queen Victoria’s Journal were made available on the internet.
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Sources used:
Express: ‘Anti-monarchists stage protest at 'ground zero' Windsor Castle over royal secrecy row’
GB News: ‘Windsor Castle security alert: Protest launched inside royal residence’
Royal.uk: ‘The Royal Archives’
Republic: ‘About’
