9 March, 2005

Charles, look at me

Prince Charles' five-day visit to New Zealand was caught up in some accident. Two topless New Zealand women shouted and showed her chest at him, when he was meeting the public in Wellington.

At first, I thought they protested against his engagement to Camilla Parker Bowles, but they didn't. Their motive for the protest was pretty serious.

The pair, who were both arrested, said they were angry at the postponement of a breast-cancer screening truck during the prince's visit to Wellington.

One woman had "get your colonial shame off my breasts" written on her body.

The demo comes a day after the country's prime minister, Helen Clark, said it was "inevitable" that New Zealand would become a republic.

The two protesters, Holly Goldman and Hana Plant, said they were also angry over reports the prince was offended by bare-breasted aboriginal dancers in Alice Springs last week.

Clarence House denies Prince Charles had been insulted by the welcome dance in the Australian Outback.

Those two women were led away by police afterward.

By the way, this picture is awesome.

» BBC News | Bare breast protest greets prince