Anti-coronation rally in Edinburgh highlights opposition to the monarchy in Scotland

Hundreds of protestors gathered on Calton Hill, Edinburgh at 3pm on Sunday 6 May, in response to the coronation of King Charles

Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Edinburgh to voice their opposition to the coronation and call for an elected head of state.

Credits: Ben Francis

Campaign group Our Republic held the protest, opposing the coronation and monarchy in Edinburgh, with an array of speakers including government ministers condemning the coronation and monarchy.

Many speakers, including Green MSP Maggie Chapman, called for not just an end to the monarch but for Scotland to become an “independent socialist republic”.

The group that organised the protests, Our Republic, states on its website their belief that “all power should be held democratically accountable” and therefore the monarchy should be abolished and replaced with an elected Scottish head of state.

Polling conducted in the run up to the coronation shows not only that the UK public are largely not interested in the coronation but that the Scottish public is reaching the point where a majority no longer support the institution of the monarchy.

A YouGov poll conducted at the end of April showcases a plurality of people in Scotland having both negative opinions of King Charles (48%) and of the monarchy as an institution (49%) with 32% having a ‘very negative’ view of the institution.

Additionally, in response to the question ‘how much do you care about the upcoming coronation’ 72% of Scots said “not much” or “not at all” according to a YouGov poll. ; reflecting the atmosphere in Edinburgh during the coronation.

Except for a few flags, you could hardly notice it was the day of the coronation. The city looked pretty much the same as it would any other day.

Except for a few flags and posters you wouldn’t be able to tell a new king was being coronated when I walked around Edinburgh on the day of the coronation.

Credits: Ben Francis

Speakers at the rally pointed to this apparent disinterest from the Scottish public with Green Party joint leader Lorna Slater arguing that the protest was where the energy was in the city. A contrast to the Princess Street viewing of the coronation.

Speakers at the rally pointed to this apparent disinterest from the Scottish public with Green Party joint leader Lorna Slater arguing that the protest was where the energy was in the city. A contrast to the Princess Street viewing of the coronation.

An estimated 1,500 people came to watch the coronation in Princess Street Gardens, more than the Republican rally. But given the vast amount of state resources and media directed to promoting the screening the fact it was only moderately bigger reflects the level of indifference towards the event in Scotland.