King Charles, Kate Middleton joint appearance marred by protest

A Commonwealth Day protest was underway before King Charles arrival at the event.

Scores of demonstrators holding placards inscribed with "Not My King" slogans gathered  at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Kate Middleton joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service on Monday, according to a Buckingham Palace statement.

A statement issued by the anti-monarchy group Republic said, "The royals will face anti-monarchy protests at the Commonwealth Day Service in London on March 10th."

"As well as opposing the monarchy, protesters will be demanding an end to the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall. The two estates have been accused of profiting from charities and public services while handing huge incomes to Charles and William," said a statement issued by the group.

"Republic has been staging a series of protests for the past two years. The Commonwealth event is particularly poignant as the first big royal event of the year and at a time when Commonwealth nations are planning to ditch the monarchy."

"Chuck the Rex, a 15ft tall dinosaur puppet, will also be joining the protest in March. Chuck is a new protest prop that symbolises the antiquated monarchy, a relic that belongs in a museum. "