Royal wedding: anti-monarchists flock to London to hold rival street parties

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8463212/Royal-wedding-anti-monarchists-flock-to-London-to-hold-rival-street-parties.html

Anti-monarchists from across Europe will descend on Britain on the day of Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton and hold anti-Royal street parties.

Led by the British group Republic, campaigners from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are due to come to London on April 29.
The group is planning to protst against the cost of raxpayers bankrolling European royal families.
Despite largely positive public reaction for the wedding, Republic campaign manager Graham Smith believes Britons are less excited about the day than the press coverage suggests.
"Most people in this country aren't that bothered about the royal family or the monarchy, they don't really care that much one way or the other," he said.
"When these big stories come up it then makes people think about it. It gives us opportunities to gain publicity and raise our profile."

An alternative street party will be held and merchandise such as cups bearing the pun "I am not a royal wedding mug" will be on sale, with the anti-celebrations culminating in a meeting of the European movement.
Republic, Britain's main republican campaign group, has seen its membership jump by around 50 percent to more than 14,000 supporters since Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in November.
Campaigners also point to the fact that previous royal weddings have helped boost interest in a republic and increase hostility to royalty, which they regard as an anachronism in the 21st century.
The Swedish Republican Association, which is sending three representatives to London, said the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling in June last year eroded support for the Nordic country's royals.
"A royal event makes people reflect on the institution of monarchy, and in Sweden many arrived at the conclusion that this is an outdated and rather bizarre phenomenon," said the group's Helena Tolvhed.
Membership of the Swedish group rose from about 3,500 to 7,500 in 2010, she added.
After the Swedish wedding, anti-monarchist groups from seven countries formed the Alliance of European Republican Movements to share ideas and nurture organisations just starting out.
The alliance will hold a meeting the day after Kate and William's nuptials.
"Norway is just getting started and they will see a more established group like the one in the UK or the one in Sweden. It does really motivate people and inspire people," Mr Smith.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372291/Muslim-Anjem-Choudary-warns-Royal-wedding-terror-attack-highly-likely.html

Militant Muslim warns Royal wedding terror attack is 'highly likely'.

    * 'Queen and her family support Afghan war,' claims extremist cleric

Target: Anjem Choudary said the Royal wedding was 'a prime target', and told all Muslims to stay away

Target: Anjem Choudary said the Royal wedding was 'a prime target', and told all Muslims to stay away

Firebrand cleric Anjem Choudary has warned that a terror attack is 'highly likely' at the Royal wedding.

The hate preacher has told all Muslims to stay away from Westminster Abbey on April 29, describing it as 'a prime target'.

Choudary has also been preaching to followers of the hate group, Muslims Against Crusades, and is backing its plan for a 'forceful demonstration' at the wedding.

Choudary said: 'All Muslims should stay away from the public gatherings like the Royal wedding and the Olympics because there is a very high likelihood of an attack.

'Prime targets most probably would be public gatherings like that, so I think Muslims in general should stay away to avoid injury.

'Maybe when the priest says "is there anyone who objects to this wedding speak now or forever hold your tongue" - who knows what will happen at that time?

'If my brothers decide to use the opportunity when the world is looking at the Royal Family to pass a message so that we can avoid more deaths of innocent men, women and children in Afghanistan, that should be applauded.

'Prince William has been on military duty in Afghanistan, as well as his brother.

'I believe that the Queen and her children are supportive of the war in Afghanistan, which translates to us as a war against Muslims.'

He added: 'We believe this is complete murder and mayhem that they have orchestrated. We will stand against and expose anyone who supports that.

'Security services in this country will tell you there is very high risk (of a terror attack). That is their main concern about the wedding.'

In 2004 Choudary said a terror attack on British soil was 'just a matter of time' and after the London bombings he refused to condemn the atrocities.

He became leader of Islam4UK but it was banned last year under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Now a new group has emerged in its place and Choudary admits he is involved.

Muslims Against Crusades is attracting the same fanatics who caused uproar with their planned protest at Wootten Bassett.

They sparked outrage when they demonstrated on Armistice Day, burning poppies during the two-minute silence.

The group has set up a website with a clock counting down to the Royal wedding, calling the Royal Family 'enemies to Allah and his messenger'.

Choudhary says the disruption to the Royal wedding could include hardliners from the group setting fire to Union Jack flags.

He said: 'It's not illegal in this country to burn a Union Jack. There may be placards and people addressing the crowd.

'A lot of them are former students of mine. Also they were previously with al-Muhajiroun so I do know them. I'm not their spokesman but they invite me from time to time.

'Some of them of them still have very similar views but they have their own administration and their own activities.

'I do appear on some of their platforms to speak but I'm not involved in organizing.

'They're a good bunch of people and I think what they say is the truth.

'We live here under the covenant of security and in return for being protected we don't target the lives of the people where we live.

'I don't advocate anyone to try any operations of violence here but this is supposed to be a country where people believe in freedom of expression. I think people should express their freedom to loathe the monarchy and what they stand for.'

The 44-year-old solicitor from East London first joined Islamist organisation al-Muhajiroun in the late 90s and acted as right-hand man to extremist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, as well as spokesman for the organisation. 

After the disbanding of al-Muhajiroun in 2004, he spoke in praise of Muslim terrorists, calling the 9/11 terrorists 'magnificent martyrs'.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said, in reference to burning the Union flag, that any words or behaviour likely to cause 'harrassment, alarm or distress' to a reasonable person could be dealt with under public order legislation - as with the poppy burning incident.

He added: 'When planning for major events the threat or terrorism is always a consideration. The Royal wedding is no exception to this.'

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http://ca.news.yahoo.com/british-royal-wedding-guest-list-causes-controversy-132816257.html

Royal wedding guest list causes controversy

The guest list for the royal wedding sparked controversy on Sunday after monarchs from countries with poor rights records were invited but two former prime ministers were not.

Rights groups criticised Prince William and Kate Middleton for inviting foreign royals from Bahrain, Swaziland and other nations where authorities have violently suppressed pro-democracy protests in recent weeks.

Newspapers pointed out that Labour ex-premiers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were snubbed on the list, which was released on Saturday, while former Conservative leaders Margaret Thatcher and John Major were invited.

"Labour MPs will not be alone in thinking it odd the two former occupants of Number 10 (Downing Street) have not been invited to the wedding," the Sunday Telegraph commented.

Royal officials said Blair and Brown were not invited because unlike Major and Thatcher they are not Knights of the Garter, Britain's highest honour.

St James's Palace, William's office, said the wedding was "not a state occasion so there is no reason why they (Blair and Brown) would be invited," the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Major -- who was prime minister from 1990-1997 and acted as a guardian to Princes William and Harry after Diana's -- will attend, but Thatcher who was in power from 1979 to 1990, has declined on health grounds.

Less controversial attendees at Friday's wedding in Westminster Abbey include footballer David Beckham and his fashion designer wife Victoria, musician Elton John and "Mr Bean" actor Rowan Atkinson.

But there was surprise when royal officials announced that Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain would also attend.

Earlier reports said the Gulf state's rulers would withdraw to avoid embarrassment after a bloody crackdown on protesters there left at least 24 people dead.

Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic hit out at inclusion of royals from not only Bahrain but also Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brunei, Qatar, Swaziland, Lesotho, Bhutan and Kuwait.

"This guest list reads like a 'Who's Who' of tyrants and their cronies," Republic chief Graham Smith said.

"Whatever happened to William's supposedly strong social conscience? He must take personal responsibility for this and rescind the invitations immediately."

Leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the invitations of "royal tyrants" from Bahrain, Swaziland and Saudi Arabia were a "massive misjudgement".

St James's Palace said it had sought advice from Britain's foreign ministry on guests from abroad.

"Invitations are extended from the queen following the long-held tradition of inviting other crowned heads of state, we have taken advice from the Foreign Office about their continued inclusion on the list," a spokesman said.

Swazi demonstrators were planning to demonstrate on Tuesday outside the Dorchester hotel in London on Wednesday, where the country's King Mswati III will be staying, South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper reported.

But Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the head of the world's Anglicans and the man who will marry William and Kate, said in his Easter sermon on Sunday that the wedding was a cause of "shared celebration."

"It's nice and entirely appropriate that we are being encouraged to some public displays of shared celebration next Friday: let a thousand street parties blossom," he said.

Five days before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II and many other senior royals had something of a "warm-up" with an Easter service at Windsor Castle, near London -- although William and Kate did not attend.