Thousands of Extinction Rebellion protesters will stage a mass occupation of Windsor Great Park in a direct challenge to the King for three days next month.
The occupation will take place from August 30 until September 1 in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, XR announced.
Quoting Harmony, a book the King wrote while still the Prince of Wales, the protest group said Charles “clearly understands the plight of the planet and the urgent need for society to change course”.
The group acknowledged that the King is expected to be less vocal about climate change and environmental destruction now that he is the reigning monarch as it is seen as “too political”.
Although they insisted the occupation will not be targeting a person but “the system”, XR invited the King “and all people of good hearts and good conscience” to join them for “three days of beauty, community, action and democracy”.
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“The occupation will unite everyday people fighting for climate justice, global justice, social justice, and justice for nature, to demand an upgrade to our democratic system,” the group said.
The purpose of the “peaceful event” is to advance the group’s demand that the government must create and be led by a citizen’s assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Catherine Bartlett of Extinction Rebellion UK said: “Windsor Castle has been chosen as an embodiment of a broken and unjust system where our message will resonate powerfully. The general election has neither fixed our broken system nor addressed the urgent action needed to tackle the climate and nature emergency.”
“Aristocrats, oligarchs and corporate interests have infected and distorted our politics and media for their own benefit and at our expense. Our politics is failing us from top to bottom. It’s time for a democratic upgrade. We demand better at all levels; from the head of state to local councils but our central demand is for a citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice, which is needed more urgently now than ever before.”
The group wrote to the King on June 13, informing him of their plans and requesting he do all he can to help facilitate the protest.
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In the letter the group said: “On the weekend of August 30 to September 1 we will bring thousands to your door in Windsor to protest at the failure of our government to act on the science of climate change and ecological collapse.
“We refuse to bequeath a dying planet to future generations by failing to act now. We act in peace, with ferocious love of these lands in our hearts. We act on behalf of life.”
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
