As Australia grapples with it’s colonial history, questions are rising on whether the King should be it’s head of state.
King Charles will be officially crowned on Saturday during a ceremony, and Australians are being asked to swear allegiance.
On Tuesday, the Archbishop of Canterbury released a pledge which he encouraged all citizens of the commonwealth to say during the monarch’s coronation.
The pledge asks all members of the commonwealth to say
“I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law so help me God.“
The Pledge has been described as tone death, especially at a time when a majority of commonwealth countries continue to struggle with the impact of colonisation.
On Thursday, prominent Indigenous Australians joined with leaders across the Commonwealth urging King Charles III to formally apologise for the effects of British imperialism.
In an open letter representing 12 countries, the Indigenous leaders called for reparations, acknowledging the impact for slavery, along with returning the remains of Indigenous people, and cultural artefacts.
Australian signatories of the letter include, Nova Peris, the first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament and co-chair of the republic movement, fellow ARM co-chair Craig Foster, and Victorian independent Senator Lidia Thorpe.
“We, the undersigned, call on the British monarch King Charles III, on the date of his coronation being May 6, 2023, to acknowledge the horrific impacts on and legacy of genocide and colonisation of the Indigenous and enslaved peoples,” the letter said.
Indigenous Artist and Archibald prize winner Blak Douglas says the decadence of the event won’t sit lightly when so many Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are struggling.
“The world is changing, this disgraceful display of decadence to ordain King Charles, while my brethren here are almost on the breadline, most artists are struggling, most single parents are struggling within our economy, It’s not going to sit lightly,” the artist said.
“We must separate ourselves from the boob, and now our majesty has gone, I can’t see it all logical to be attempting to suckle to Charles’ chest.”
Listen to the full interview with Archibald Prize winning Artist Blak Douglas here:
Image Credit: Firebrace
