Conflict between King and King increases as violent image is deleted

Some Indigenous leaders have criticized an Australian senator's heckling of King Charles as she faces backlash over a violent image of the monarch that was briefly posted on her social media account.

Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal woman, made headlines around the world when she shouted “You are not my king” and “This is not your country” before being led away from a royal event in Canberra on Monday.

The independent senator's protest was praised as brave by some activists but condemned as “embarrassing” and disrespectful by other prominent Indigenous Australians.

Thorpe has defended her actions at the event but said a cartoon later posted to her Instagram account was inappropriate.

The drawing – which showed the beheaded king next to his crown – was shared by an employee without her knowledge, the senator said.

“I deleted it as soon as I saw it. I would intentionally not share anything that might appear to promote violence against anyone.”

The image that has drawn condemnation adds to the intense scrutiny of her actions on Monday.

Aunt Violet Sheridan, an Aboriginal elder who officially welcomed King and Queen Camilla to Ngunnawal land, told Guardian Australia: “Lidia Thorpe does not speak for me and my people, and I am sure she does not speak for many “Speaks to First Nations people.”

Nova Peris – a former senator who was the first Aboriginal woman to serve in Parliament and is a long-time Republican – also described Thorpe's actions as “embarrassing and disappointing”.

“Australia is moving forward on its journey to reconciliation… As difficult as that journey is, it requires respectful dialogue, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to healing – not divisive actions that divert attention from the progress we are making as a country . “Country,” she wrote on X.

However, other prominent Indigenous activists have praised Thorpe's stance.

Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, a Bundjalung lawyer and author, said there was “nothing more damaging or disrespectful” than inviting the monarchy to tour the country in the first place, given its history.

“When Thorpe speaks, the ancestors are right in her head.”

After her protest, Thorpe told the BBC she wanted to send a “clear message” to the king.

“To be sovereign, you have to be from the country,” she said. “He’s not from this country.”

On Tuesday, Thorpe said she disrupted the king's parliamentary welcoming ceremony after repeated written requests for a meeting and a “respectful conversation” with the monarch were ignored.

She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she wanted to “let the world know about the plight of our people in this country” and that the king apologized.

“Why doesn't he say, 'I'm sorry for the many, many thousands of massacres that have taken place in this country and that my ancestors and my kingdom are responsible for them?'” she said.

A chorus of Australian politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have also criticized her protest, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended the monarch.

Asked by reporters whether it was “disgraceful” for Australian politicians to shout at the king, Sir Keir replied: “Look, I think the king is doing a fantastic job, an incredible ambassador, not just for our country but across the board Commonwealth.” .”

“He performs his public service regardless of the health problems he himself has had.”

Albanese said Thorpe had failed to meet “the standard behavior that Australians rightly expect from parliamentarians”. while opposition leader Peter Dutton called for Thorpe to resign.

“I really don’t care what Dutton says,” Thorpe replied on ABC radio.

“I’ll be here for the next three years, so get used to telling the truth.”