The ringleader of the anti-monarchist group Republic has launched a series of tasteless attacks on the Royal Family while King Charles and the Princess of Wales both battle with cancer.
Republic CEO Graham Smith described Kate’s cancer struggle as a ‘soap opera, not news’ and called for an end to the ‘sycophantic nonsense’ amid an outpouring of global sympathy for the mother-of-three.
The author of ‘Abolish the Monarchy’ also ‘joked’ the Royal Family ‘really are in trouble’ in response to a report about Prince Edward stepping up to help the slimmed-down monarchy while Kate, 42, and Charles, 75, continue to recover.
It comes as Republic – whose aim is to abolish the British monarchy – prepares to target Queen Camilla at the Royal Maundy Service in Worcester Cathedral on Thursday – just six days after Kate revealed her devastating cancer diagnosis.
The activists also descended on Westminster Abbey on March 11 as they targeted the annual Commonwealth Day service which was being led by the Queen and the Prince of Wales in the absence of Charles and Kate.
The group has staged several protests at royal engagements over the last 12 months and will carry out another on Thursday when Camilla presents Maundy gifts to 75 men and 75 women in recognition of their community service.
Republic CEO Graham Smith (pictured at a ‘Not my King’ protest) has continued to attack the Royal Family while Charles and Kate battle cancer
Kate revealed in an emotional interview last Friday that she was battling cancer and undergoing preventative chemotheraphy
Republic are planning to stage a Royal Maundy Protest on Thursday – six days after Kate’s cancer bombshell
‘We must be there to protest this tone-deaf service and persuade the public that this archaic practice ought to be abolished along with the Monarchy,’ Republic has said.
On Friday, Kate revealed in an emotional video that she was battling cancer and had been undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy after major abdominal surgery.
Her absence from the public eye had led to wild conspiracy theories about her health – but her brave video sparked an outpouring of support.
Among those to pay tribute to Kate was the Duchess of York who was diagnosed with skin cancer at the start of the year months after having a mastectomy for breast cancer.
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, fondly known as Fergie, said: ‘As someone who has faced their own battles with cancer in recent months, I am full of admiration for the way she has spoken publicly about her diagnosis.’
But Mr Smith, who has campaigned against the Royal Family for over a decade, reposted the duchess’ message of support and wrote: ‘This is soap opera, not news.’
He also criticised a column by Piers Morgan in which the journalist praised Prince William for his dignity in the face of losing his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and after his father and wife were diagnosed with cancer.
Retweeting the article, he wrote: ‘As difficult as it is, lots of people deal with these kinds of misfortunes and personal crises. They do so while trying to hold down jobs and without a £25m income or an army of servants. Stop this sycophantic nonsense.’
Mr Smith has posted a number of tweets hitting out at the Royal Family while Kate and Charles recover
Mr Smith also reposted an article about Prince William ‘knowing his destiny’ as King but having to prioritise being a husband and a father for now. The Republic leader wrote: ‘His destiny is retirement in a republic.’
And in response to an article about Prince Edward emerging as the ‘Royal Family’s leading man’, Mr Smith shamelessly quipped: ‘They really are in trouble.’
The Republic CEO also accused Camilla of having ‘lots of long gaps’ in her diary ‘with the occasional outing’ – despite her having to step up while her husband battles cancer.
And commenting on a story about a taxi driver pulling over and breaking down into tears over Kate’s cancer new, Mr Smith tweeted: ‘Royalism is a weird fetish that has little to do with anything substantial or real.’
But his remarks sparked anger, with one user tweeting: ‘Are you bored today Graham? Too much love for The Princess of Wales for you to stomach? Suck it up son.’
Another wrote: ‘People love public figures. Seems like you’re a bit jealous that no one will cry for you.’
A third said: ‘Back to being nasty again then Graham?’
And a fourth added: ‘Weird graham is you !!!! Have you got a proper job yet ??’
Graham Smith pictured at an anti-monarchy protest prior to the Commonwealth Service on March 13 last year
Graham Smith speaks to crowds from a megaphone at last year’s Commonwelath Service
Mr Smith took legal action against the Metropolitan Police last year after he and five other protesters were arrested on the day of the King’s Coronation. The Met previously expressed ‘regret’ over the arrests.
The series of Mr Smith’s tweets follow Kate’s shock video message on Friday afternoon in which she revealed the extent of her health battles.
She said: ‘The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found that cancer had been present.
‘As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
‘But most importantly it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I will be okay.’
It is understood the announcement was made on Friday because it allowed Kate’s children to break up from school and give the Waleses the opportunity to take them to her family home in Norfolk, where they will spend the Easter holidays in private.
However, some close to the princess say the reason she revealed so much information was, in part, to silence those who had been cruelly speculating about her.
‘Catherine’s message was so honest,’ one friend told The Sunday Times.
‘Isn’t it sad that she has to be so honest and share that because of all the nonsense that has been around?
Kate and Charles have taken a step back from royal engagements while they fight cancer together
‘I feel like the whole world has been gossiping about her and there is so much bull**** out there about her and her family.
‘It was almost desperate that she had to do it.’
Another friend, who Kate confided in before announcing her diagnosis to the public, said the ‘drama’ of the last few weeks wasn’t the main driving force behind her decision, even though ‘obviously that has been upsetting’.
‘She felt she had to do it because of who she is. It was more that she knows she is a public figure and has a wider leadership responsibility,’ they told the publication.
They added: ‘She also wants to be able to carry on with as active and normal a routine as possible.’
