PROTESTS have been held in London as the royal family attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
Senior members of the family have gathered for the annual celebration of the global “family of nations”.
But republican campaigners and those standing against the political and moral stance of some of the nations of the Commonwealth have been making their voices heard in the UK capital.
Anti-monarchy group Republic has said the Commonwealth event is particularly poignant as the first big royal event of the year and at a time when Commonwealth nations are planning to ditch the monarchy.
Supporters of Republic have been pictured holding "Not My King" signs alongside a 15 ft dinosaur puppet named Chuck the Rex.
Chuck is a new protest prop from Republic that symbolises the antiquated monarchy and is set to appear at protests throughout the year.
Protesters have also been demanding an end to the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall. The two estates have been accused of profiting from charities and public services while handing huge incomes to King Charles and Prince William.
Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said: "Fewer than one in ten Commonwealth citizens have Charles as their head of state. 75% of Commonwealth nations are republics. The Commonwealth has very little to do with the royals.
"The royals need to stop using the Commonwealth as a vehicle for their own PR."
Some protesters were also there to boo and jeer leaders from 29 Commonwealth countries that criminalise LGBT+ people.
Among the 50 protesters were LGBT+ refugees who have fled persecution in Commonwealth nations. They included members of UK Black Pride, Let Voice Be Heard (Bangladesh), African Equality Foundation, and Out and Proud African LGBTI.
The protest was organised by the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
Director Peter Tatchell said: "As the Commonwealth celebrates, we mourn. We are calling out the 29 member states that violate their own equality principles and the Commonwealth Charter. They preside over state-sanctioned persecution of their LGBT+ citizens.
“A total of 29 out of 56 Commonwealth countries criminalise homosexuality, mostly under British colonial-era laws. Six impose life imprisonment, while Nigeria, Brunei and Uganda have the death penalty. Millions of LGBT+ Commonwealth citizens face arrest, imprisonment, mob violence, and discrimination in employment, housing, education and healthcare.
“Countries that criminalise LGBT+ people should be suspended from the Commonwealth."
Here are some pictures of some of the protests that have been taking place.
