Republicans throw 'Not the royal wedding' party

While the rest of the UK appears on the face of it to have collectively caught royal wedding fever, there is a corner of central London that is most certainly immune.

Close to Covent Garden, the Republic movement, a pressure group which campaigns for an end to the monarchy, is holding a 'Not the royal wedding' street party. With 20% of the UK reportedly republican, this group campaigns for those whose voices are not being currently heard.

ROYAL WEDDING MADNESS SWEEPS THROUGH LONDON

Graham Smith, the group's campaign manager and Executive Director, told FRANCE 24 that it is a traditional British royal street party, but with a twist. Instead of celebrating pageantry and royalty, the street party will celebrate democracy and an end to inherited privilege.

The fact that the street party is being held at all is a surprise. It was originally meant to take place not far from the main royal wedding route, but was banned from doing so by a local government body that feared it would be overrun by anarchists. Smith believes that lobbying on the part of a powerful local landlord was partly behind the ban.

Taking a sneaky peak at the wedding?

The move to ban Republic's celebrations was, it could be argued, a PR gift since the issue promptly became front page news across the UK.

Despite this upset, the event went ahead Friday, but further away from the royal madness at Westminster.

Early Friday morning, in a garden square a short stroll from Holborn tube station, Republics' members busily set up stalls and strung up bunting.

As has happened at numerous events for this royal wedding, journalists outnumbered attendees in the morning, with the TV crews pulling rank and trying to elbow the mere print and web journalists out of the way for the best shots.

Smith admitted to being nervous about the lack of crowds and ruefully said that he thought people were “probably taking a sneaky peak at the wedding on TV before heading down.”

As the morning progressed, the crowds started to arrive and, in another running theme from this wedding, seemed to be delighted by all the media attention they were getting as banks of journalists jostled for position around those who had chosen to dress up.

Fun day out, but with a serious message

The Republic party was not all 'bah-humbug' and serious. Bunting hung cheerfully from the stalls that had been set up, a jazz band played to entertain the crowds, stocks and other games had been laid on, and there was a general party atmosphere.

Underlying the fun, however, was a serious message which everyone was keen to get across.

Smith believes that there will be a “royal wedding hangover” next week as the country starts to count the cost of putting on such a spectacle. “People don't believe in democracy any more, but if we completely reformed the system they would again,” argued Smith. He also, somewhat jokingly, said that he would rather “David Beckham was the president” than the Queen.

The points made by Smith were echoed by many at the event. Kaye Boyce, who sported an ironic “Thanks for the day off” t-shirt in a nod to the national holiday Friday, said that the royal family is “anachronistic”. “No one really cares about the royal family”, she assured.

Joyce Bradley, who has been a member of Republic for two years and was manning a stall, said, “Intrinsically it is wrong to have a democratic country with an inherited monarchy.”

The republican conviction behind the party was clear for all to see, but whether the movement's views will catch on is another matter. The points they make are logical, clear and well argued. But if you look at this purely as a PR war, I would say Royal Family 1 – Republic 0.

DOWN WITH THE QUEEN!: ANTI-MONARCHISTS JOIN THE PARTY Banner that advertised the "Not the royal wedding" street party on Friday. The event was organised by the anti-monarchist movement Republic in central London. Photo by Katherine Thompson. Graham Smith, the Republic movement campaign manager and executive director, rallies the crowd. The press jostle for position. Photo by Katherine Thompson. One of the banners at the event proclaimed some the Republic movement's views. Photo by Katherine Thompson. Sergeant Faulkner (left) and Constable Turton (right) policed the event. Photo by Katherine Thompson. Attendee sported a Union Jack dress at the "Not the royal wedding" street party. Photo by Katherine Thompson. Jean Pluridge, wore a Queen mask and declared proudly: "I am a republican!" Photo by Katherine Thompson. Richard Rose, who said he was considering joining the movement. He also said that he had earlier been wearing a mask, but that the police had made him remove it with no explanation. Photo by Katherine Thompson. "It is intrinsically wrong to have a democratic country but an inherited monarchy," said Joyce Bradley, a member of the movement. Photo by Katherine Thompson. "I wish Kate and Will the right to elect their head of state," said Marjorie. Photo by Katherine Thompson. "The royal wedding is a farce," said James while demonstrating his view that the UK is a "banana republic". Photo by Katherine Thompson. Katy Boyce, wore a "Thanks for the day off" t-shirt, and said the royal wedding is an "anachronism". Photo by Katherine Thompson. A reporter for the popular BBC TV show "The One Show" got into the spirit. She was at the event filming for the British TV station. Photos by Katherine Thompson.