Anti-royal posters have appeared around the city as a response to the King’s coronation this weekend.
Large posters designed by artist group Pattern Up Collective hit out at the monarchy through a mock-up screenshot of a Government Universal Credit page.
The art in North Street, Brighton, says King Charles, or Charles Philip Arthur George as he is referred to in the piece, can claim a whopping £7.2 million for his monthly benefit.
“The Royal Family are a family on an unjustifiable amount of benefits,” said a spokesman for the Pattern Up Collective.
“The piece depicts this through using a Universal Credit benefit statement to highlight the monthly income of the royals.
“According to i news, the Royal Family cost the taxpayer £86 million between 2021 and 2022, which could be used to better underfunded services in the UK, such as the NHS.
“Instead, it is used to fund ornamental tourist attractions.”
The large poster was plastered on the side of a former Royal Bank of Scotland building while a smaller version was spotted at a pedestrian crossing at the Clock Tower.
The pieces have been shared widely across social media as royalists and republicans clash over whether the monarchy should exist while thousands across the UK struggle to pay their bills.
It comes as dozens of arrests were made in London on Saturday ahead of the coronation.
READ MORE: Brighton: Pictures of King's Coronation street parties
The Metropolitan Police were faced with criticism after confirming 52 arrests had been made for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause public nuisance around the coronation.
Campaign groups said Saturday’s arrests, including that of the chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, were “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London”.
Metropolitan Police Commander Karen Findlay acknowledged concerns about the arrest of protesters but defended Scotland Yard’s actions, saying: “Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation.”
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