Thousands of street parties may be taking place across the UK to celebrate the royal wedding on Friday but the only public event taking place in Dundee will call for the abolition of the monarchy.
A people’s festival was held in Baxter Park in 1981 on the day of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer’s wedding, and a similar event has been arranged for their son’s nuptials.
The Reading Rooms will host the Anti-Royal Wedding Garden Party, with music, poetry and political discussion. Organisers Dundee Uncut say they hope the event will provide a “much-needed antidote” to the hype surrounding the royal wedding.
A spokesman said, “The monarchy is an outdated institution which only serves to highlight the class privilege, hierarchical systems, and wealth inequality which blight our country.
“Whilst we have no quarrel with William and Kate as individuals, it is certainly the case that they will not have to face any of the economic problems which affect most young couples in this country: such as an inability to obtain mortgages, or to find good quality council housing or being able to afford the high rents of the private sector.
“At a time of severe cuts in public services, it is also worth remembering that the main cause of poverty both here and internationally is the use of tax havens by large corporations and wealthy individuals.
“Many of these tax havens are Crown dependencies such as Jersey and Guernsey, or British Overseas Territories with governors appointed by the Queen. The monarchy is not neutral in these activities; rather it is complicit in this theft of the wealth created by ordinary working people.”
The spokesman added that Friday’s event will celebrate all of the UK’s population, not just William and Kate.
“This May Day weekend is not the time to celebrate status and privilege. From the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane to the modern Labour Day, it is the traditional time to celebrate the achievements and hard work of the people.”
Photo by Flickr user aurlien.