A protest against the monarchy is to take place on Friday during King Charles III's first visit to Wales since ascending the throne.
The silent demonstration will begin from 1pm at Cardiff Castle, organisers have said. The group - supported by activist and former Senedd Member for Plaid Cymru Bethan Sayed - have asked that their democratic right to protest is respected on the day.
It will be Charles III's first official visit to Wales since becoming King and thousands of people are expected to line the streets of the capital to welcome the King and Queen Consort. After attending a remembrance service for Queen Elizabeth II at Llandaff Cathedral, the Royal party will then travel to the Senedd, where they will receive a Motion of Condolence from the First Minister, Mark Drakeford.
Read more: All the places you can see King Charles III in Cardiff on Friday
Ms 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."
Ms Sayed added that it is "entirely legitimate" for a protest to be held and protesters have called on the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council to ask South Wales Police to respect their democratic right to protest, following the arrests and threats of action against people holding signs saying 'Not my King' in other cities. Police have already said that people “absolutely have a right to protest” against the monarchy.
A number of groups are joining to lead the protest under the banner Real Democracy Now, including trade unions, Welsh independence organisations and republicans. They want a "national conversation" about the role of the Royal Family in Wales' future, with support for Welsh independence on the rise and growing uncertainty for the need for a monarchy in modern society. In particular, they are calling into question the divine right of Kings, with the public ultimately having no say in who rules and how they do so.
Adam Johannes, a campaigner and recent organiser of cost of living protests in Cardiff, said: "Personally my own mother passed away not so long ago so I have every empathy with a family in its personal grief. But when we have these parades, these huge public events, they are in a sense political acts.
"And yet one side of the debate is told 'now is not the time', meanwhile all kinds of things are being rushed through like the announcement that Prince William will be the new Prince of Wales. So when there are these events, which it feels to us are almost like PR events to sure up support for the monarchy, we think it's legitimate to also make our voices heard."
Leader of pro-independence party Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, has waded in and said a debate on the subject should be held "in due course". Meanwhile, a representative of Labour for an Independent Wales Representative, said: "Soon 67% of Welsh people will live in fuel poverty while the royals inherit millions, tax free. Our democracy is weakened by their presence and so, ultimately, we push for an independent, socialist, Republic of Wales."
A petition calling for an end to the Prince of Wales title has gathered more than 25,000 signatures in less than a week.
READ NEXT:
-
Preparations gear up as Wales readies itself to welcome King Charles III
Hotel prices surge in Cardiff night before King Charles III's visit to Wales
Support for King Charles after he swears at leaky pen and writes wrong date
How the Prince of Wales' investiture could look amid reports it will be a scaled-back event
'Mourning the Queen does not justify public services grinding to a halt'
