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Welsh independence and republican stickers removed from coronation postbox

04 May 2023 3 minute read
Tom Wren/Royal Mail

Welsh independence and republican stickers plastered over a specially decorated coronation postbox hours after it was unveiled have been removed.

The Royal Mail postbox in Cardiff city centre was one of four across the UK to be repainted in celebration of the King’s crowning on Saturday.

The red, white and blue box, which has on it the coronation emblem and a Union flag, has however attracted criticism from some members of the public and campaign groups.

Most have complained about the location of the box, as the one chosen is situated directly outside the historic Owain Glyndwr pub on St John Street – which is named after a Welsh hero who fought against English rule in the late Middle Ages.

Glyndwr’s 15-year-long revolt against the English means he is often referred to as “the last Prince of Wales” and is seen as a symbol of Welsh nationalism.

On Wednesday afternoon, CPD Cefn Hengoed Gweriniaeth Cymru (Republic of Wales) stickers appeared on the postbox over the words “Charles” and “Coronation”.

During the night more stickers appeared on the box, with Yes Cymru, Wrexham Lager and Welsh Football Fans for Independence stickers placed to cover the coronation emblem.

The specially designed postbox has been redecorated with various Welsh independence stickers

While some commentators on social media appeared to predict and support the vandalism of the box, others, including Welsh Conservative councillor for Radyr and Morgantown Calum Davies, reported it to Royal Mail and Cardiff Council.

By mid-morning on Thursday the stickers had been ripped off, but their outline remained visible.

Wales’s capital city will be the centre of the nation’s coronation celebrations at the weekend, with a public screening of the ceremony being held in Cardiff Castle and a showing of the following concert taking place at Roald Dahl Plass.

Protest

A “Not My King” protest will also take place on the city’s streets, with people expected to gather by the statue of Aneurin Bevan on Queen Street from 12.30pm before a march takes place.

It will be followed by a “Big Republican Lunch” in Bute Park – a play on the name of the Big Coronation Lunches that communities have been encouraged to hold to mark the occasion.

The march will coincide with similar anti-monarchist protests expected to take place across the UK during the coronation event, including in London.

The organisers behind the protest in Wales, Cymru Republic, previously held a demonstration during the King’s visit to Cardiff following his accession to the throne.

Groups have been warned that under new laws to curb protests which came into force on Wednesday anyone found disrupting infrastructure such as roads, airports and railways will be dealt with swiftly and could face 12 months behind bars.

The Senedd’s presiding officer Elin Jones has said she will not be attending the coronation on Saturday with First Minister Mark Drakeford, and added that deputy presiding officer, Labour’s David Rees, will attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey instead.

The Plaid Cymru MS told members on Thursday: “As a republican, I consider it is for others to celebrate a coronation.”


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Frank
Frank
1 year ago

I see, some people have the right to provokingly decorate a postbox but another group of people haven’t. I thought we lived in a free country not a dictatorship.

Hywel
Hywel
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank

Provocative symbols deserve provocative protests.

Richard 1
Richard 1
1 year ago
Reply to  Hywel

..’specially provocative symbols provocatively placed

Lolly Mountjoy
Lolly Mountjoy
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard 1

They know what their doing

Steve thomas
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank

We the taxpayers of Cymru have that right as well

Steve A Duggan
Steve A Duggan
1 year ago

They’ll probably have 24hr CCTV and a security guard there now to stop further protesting stickers….. Nothing should protest against this jamboree regardless that over 60% couldn’t give a damn.

Cawr
Cawr
1 year ago

Paint it green. It’ll take ages to undo that.

Doctor Trousers
1 year ago

Welsh independence and republican stickers removed from coronation postbox*
*For now

Riki
Riki
1 year ago

Well, if this was Ireland, it wouldn’t have been stickers being put on it. How lucky of them that we, the real British are more flaccid in our resistance. We will fight for anyone’s rights except our own.

Y Llydawr
Y Llydawr
1 year ago

Hmm…

IMG_20230504_173213.jpg
Hywel
Hywel
1 year ago

Where are YH missing 4 comments?

stuart stanton
stuart stanton
1 year ago

No decorated postboxes here in Leeds, not too many decorations either…..hmmmm.
At the 1958 Empire (& Commonwealth) Games a message from the indisposed QEII announced her son ‘Charles’ was to be made Prince of Wales. This overtly political statement has shaped the nation ever since, demeaning it to a ‘Principality’. Cymru am Byth,

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
1 year ago

nitromors, clutch fluid or hammerite thinners would probably make a difference?

Ivor Schilling
Ivor Schilling
1 year ago

CPD Cefn Hengoed. Anyone know what that is?

Phil Egan
Phil Egan
1 year ago

Nid fy mrenin i.

Tomi Benn
Tomi Benn
1 year ago

Twll dy din di Carlo!

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
1 year ago

I view the Coronation as an English event crowning their new monarch.

This imposition on the people of Cardiff is a show of occupation of our country by its larger neighbour.

The problem is that we as a nation of Wales are not allowed to run our own country and to make our own constitution, have control of our own police, justice, armed forces and make our own laws all being accountable to our own elected Senedd.

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