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MARK DRAKEFORD defended the right of protest against the visit of King Charles III to Wales today as anti-monarchy demonstrators gathered outside Cardiff Castle.
Charles Windsor visited Cardiff with his wife Camilla, first stopping at Llandaff Cathedral, then the Welsh Parliament and lastly on to Cardiff Castle.
Protesters gathered in a silent demonstration to greet the pair outside the Senedd, with banners reading: “Abolish the Monarchy,” “citizen not subject” and “democracy now.”
Giant Owain Glyndwr flags were held aloft by some demonstrators, with one man holding up a placard saying: “End Prince of Wales title.”
One protester tweeted photos showing the police filming the demonstration.
It came after arrests of protesters holding signs reading “Not my King” were made across Britain over the last week.
Ahead of the visit, the Welsh First Minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that now is not the time for objections and debate around the monarchy “to surface.”
But he also said: “People have a legitimate right to protest and there are a variety of views.
“People have that right and I think it will be exercised with restraint and it will be a footnote to the dominant feelings of the day.”
On the police’s handling of demonstrators, Mr Drakeford said: “It should be proportionate. It should recognise the rights that people have.
“I have every confidence in South Wales Police, who have dealt with this sort of event many times very successfully.”
A petition calling for an end to the Prince of Wales title, which has been handed down to Mr Windsor’s son William, out of respect for the Welsh has gathered more than 25,000 signatures.
Former Plaid Cymru MWP Bethan Sayed said: “As soon as King Charles III decided to announce that Prince William should become Prince of Wales, so soon after the death of the Queen, many of us felt compelled to respond.
“We must discuss the future of Wales, and what we want that to look like.
“People tell us that now is not the time to discuss this issue, however, when the monarchy passes from the incumbent to a new King, now is exactly the time to discuss this matter.
“It is about fairness, equality, and the Wales we want to shape for future generations.”
