…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
The Royal Mail postbox in Cardiff city centre was repainted in celebration of the King’s crowning on Saturday.
However, Welsh independence and republican stickers were plastered over it hours after it was unveiled, and the stickers were later removed.
The location of the box, outside the historic Owain Glyndwr pub on St John Street, has attracted criticism from some members of the public and campaign groups because Glyndwr is seen as a symbol of Welsh nationalism.
Wales’s capital city will be the centre of the nation’s coronation celebrations at the weekend.
A “Not My King” protest will take place on the city’s streets, with people expected to gather before a march takes place.
It will be followed by a “Big Republican Lunch” in Bute Park.
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.”
The repainting of the Royal Mail postbox in Cardiff city centre, one of four across the UK, in celebration of the King’s crowning has sparked criticism from some members of the public and campaign groups.
The choice of location 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, has been questioned by some.
The pub’s namesake is seen as a symbol of Welsh nationalism due to his 15-year-long revolt against the English, which led to his often being referred to as “the last Prince of Wales”.
The appearance of Welsh independence and republican stickers on the postbox hours after its unveiling, followed by their removal, has highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding Welsh nationalism and the monarchy.
The “Not My King” protest, organised by Cymru Republic, is expected to take place in Cardiff during the coronation event, alongside other anti-monarchist protests across the UK.
With the introduction of new laws to curb protests, those found disrupting infrastructure could face imprisonment, adding a new dimension to the ongoing debate.