Some indigenous leaders have criticized an Australian senator’s criticism of King Charles, as he faces backlash over a violent photo of the king briefly posted on his social media account.
Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal woman, made international headlines when she shouted “you are not my king” and “this is not your country” before being kicked out of a royal ceremony in Canberra on Monday.
The independent MP’s protest was hailed as brave by some activists, but criticized by some prominent Indigenous Australians as “disgraceful” and disrespectful.
Thorpe defended his actions at the event, but said a cartoon later posted on his Instagram account was inappropriate.
The painting – which depicts the King being beheaded next to his crown – was written by a worker without knowledge, the senator said.
“I have removed it at my discretion. I will not knowingly share anything that could be seen as inciting violence against anyone.”
The photo, which has sparked criticism, added to the intense scrutiny of his actions on Monday.
Anti Violet Sheridan, an Aboriginal elder who officially welcomed King and Queen Camilla to Ngunnawal country, told Guardian Australia: “Lidia Thorpe doesn’t speak for me and my people, and I’m sure she doesn’t a lot of the time. First Nations people.”
Nova Peris – a former member of parliament and the first Aboriginal woman in parliament and a long-time republican – also called Thorpe’s actions “disgraceful and disappointing”.
“Australia is moving forward on its journey of reconciliation… however difficult that journey may be, it requires respectful dialogue, understanding, and a shared commitment to healing – not divisive actions that distract from the progress we are making as a nation,” he wrote in X.
However, some prominent indigenous activists praised Thorpe’s stance.
Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, a lawyer and writer from Bundjalung, said “there is nothing more hurtful or disrespectful than inviting royalty to visit the country in the first place, given its history.
“When Thorpe speaks, he carries the ancestors with him.”
Speaking on Tuesday, Thorpe said he disrupted the King’s reception in Parliament after written requests for a meeting and a “respectful conversation” with the king were ignored.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he “wants the world to know the plight of our people in this country” and that the Lord should apologise.
“Why didn’t he say, ‘I apologize for the many thousands of murders that have happened in this country and that my ancestors and my kingdom are responsible for that’?” he said.
A chorus of Australian politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese they also condemned his protest, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the king.
When asked by reporters if it was “disgraceful” that Australian politicians scolded the King, Sir Keir replied: “Look, I think the King is doing an excellent job, a wonderful ambassador, not only for our country, but for the whole Commonwealth. .”
“He is doing his public duty despite the health challenges he himself has had.”
Albanese said Thorpe had not met “the standard behavior that Australians rightly expect in Parliament”. when opposition leader Peter Dutton called for Thorpe to step down.
“I don’t care what Dutton says,” Thorpe told ABC radio in response.
“I’ll be here for the next three years so you can get used to telling the truth.”
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