Eco extemists Extinction Rebellion to target King Charles for three-day mass protest

Eco extremists Extinction Rebellion today vowed to occupy one of King Charles's residencies for three days this summer.

In a press release the group, that began the major civil disruption to raise the climate change agenda from 2018, said it plans to target Windsor Great Park in Berkshire from Friday August 30 to Sunday, September 1.

The group described it as a "three-day mass occupation" called "Upgrade Democracy" in response to Labour winning the General Election, who it says is not tackling the "climate emergency."

XR said that new Chancellor Rachel Reeves did a u-turn on Labour’s commitment to invest £28 billion a year on the green transition, before the party was elected.

An XR spokesperson said: "Labour has said it will not cancel recent oil and gas licences – including the controversial Rosebank oil field in the North Sea – which will lock-in global average temperature rises of 1.5C. Labour has not committed to review our carbon budgets in the light of the latest science. Labour has not committed to being led by an emergency citizens’ assembly on climate and nature."

The XR press release out today states: "King Charles clearly understands the plight of the planet and the urgent need for society to change course. As Prince of Wales he actively spoke out about climate change and environmental destruction. Now that he is King, he is expected to be less vocal about the emergency as it is seen as too 'political' even though he spoke frankly at COP28 about the peril of our own survival due to climate and ecological collapse.

"Our occupation at Windsor will not be targeting a person, it will target the system. A system where money and power is concentrated in the hands of a few. And where the influence of powerful business interests have corrupted our politics with their denial and delay, ensuring the obscene profits of oil and gas companies keep rolling in even while the planet burns.

"Windsor Castle is just a few miles from Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 instituting the right to trial by jury. It was the start of a fairer, more inclusive system, and Extinction Rebellion wants to carry the work that was started hundreds of years ago into the future by updating our democracy so that it meets the demands and needs of our world today."

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.”

XR said the purpose of its "mass occupation of his majesty’s lawns and gardens" is to advance its "third demand that the Government must create and be led by a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice".

The spokesperson added: "Only the common sense of ordinary people will help us navigate the challenging decisions ahead and circumvent the influence of the lobbyists and corporate donors. Everyday people have the right to be included in making the decisions that affect their lives. We need to Upgrade Democracy and ensure this process involves learning, listening, collaborating, and making decisions together for the common good."

XR said it wrote to King Chalres on June 13, informing him of its plans and requesting he do all he can to help facilitate our peaceful protest.

The letter said: “On the weekend of 30th August to 1st of September 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.

“Government failure is baked into our broken political system; without a radical upgrade of democracy our politicians will just fail us again and again. Money and power needs to be removed from politics so we can decisively tackle the crisis faced by life on earth.

“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."

The group said it would be a "peaceful event" characterised by creativity and the harnessing of our collective intelligence.

Activities will include a funfair, art-blocking, workshops, music and speakers.

The have even invited His Majesty to attend.

"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 spokesperson added.

The Labour Party and Buckingham Palace have been contacted for comment.