The Queen dies: Narelda Jacobs demands an apology from the British monarchy for colonialism

An Indigenous Australian newsreader has called on Britain to apologise to First Nations people for its colonial history following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Narelda Jacobs, a presenter on morning show Studio 10, expressed her resentment towards the monarchy and insisted that Aboriginal people shouldn’t be criticised for refusing to mourn the Queen’s death.

She described the British monarchy as a ‘symbol of colonisation’ and asked what had been done by the modern-day Royal Family to ‘make up for that’.

‘There was a great wrong that was done,’ she said. ‘Australia was settled without the consent of First Nations people that were here.’

Jacobs also confessed how ‘frustrating’ it was for her to hear stories of how her late father Cedric Jacobs, an Indigenous man, survivor of the Stolen Generations and reverend of the Uniting Church in Australia, had met the Queen and Prince Philip in the 1980s to receive an Order of the British Empire.

At the time, Cedric was in the process of drafting a treaty between Indigenous Australians and the Commonwealth, but apparently this was not brought up during his meeting with the Queen.

Jacobs questioned why the Queen didn’t ‘say anything’ about the proposed treaty despite knowing about ‘the trauma from colonisation’.

Jacobs (left) expressed her resentment towards the monarchy and insisted that Aboriginal people shouldn’t be criticised for refusing to mourn the Queen’s (right) death

‘They knew full well that plans for a treaty were afoot, as there were treaties [with Indigenous people] in New Zealand and also in Canada. But what did they do? That’s the source of the frustration,’ she added.

Jacobs said there was ‘more’ the Queen and Prince Philip could have said to her father, who died in 2018, about the ‘intergenerational trauma’ felt by Aboriginal people as a result of British colonialism and racist government policy in Australia.

Cedric was one of the tens of thousands of Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families from the late 1800s to 1969, in accordance with ‘protectionist’ policies, in what is known today as the Stolen Generations.

While she acknowledged ‘the monarchy is above politics’, Jacobs said she would have liked to have seen more recognition by the Royal Family of the effects of colonialism during the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

Jacobs also confessed how ‘frustrating’ it was for her to hear stories of how her late father Cedric Jacobs, an Indigenous man, survivor of the Stolen Generations and reverend of the Uniting Church in Australia, had met the Queen and Prince Philip in the 1980s to receive an Order of the British Empire (pictured during that meeting)

At the time, Cedric was also in the process of drafting a treaty between Indigenous Australians and the Commonwealth, but apparently this was not brought up during his meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip (pictured in in Dublin, Ireland, on May 18, 2011). Jacobs said there was ‘more’ the Queen could have said to her father about the ‘intergenerational trauma’ felt by Aboriginal people as a result of British colonialism and racist government policy in Australia

Jacobs went on to defend the AFLW, the women’s division of Australian Rules football, which received backlash for announcing it would not observe a minute’s silence to mark the death of the Queen during the remaining matches of its Indigenous Round. (Pictured: Adelaide Crows players Eloise Jones, Danielle Ponter, Stevie-Lee Thompson on September 5)

Jacobs, whose mother is Irish, then demanded an ‘acknowledgement or apology’ from the monarchy.

‘While the world has united in grief over the Queen’s passing, colonised people have also united over their trauma,’ she said. 

‘Because we know that in British museums are stolen artefacts. Stolen gems, diamonds. There are human remains that are sitting in British museums, even now. And there has been no acknowledgement of that, or apology for that.’

Hours before her appearance on Studio 10, Jacobs posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan: ‘Another Day in the Colony’ 

Jacobs asked viewers not to be ‘dismissive’ of those who refuse to celebrate the Queen’s reign or mourn her death, and instead ‘listen’ to them and keep an open mind.

She went on to defend the AFLW, the women’s division of Australian Rules football, which received backlash for announcing it would not observe a minute’s silence to mark the death of the Queen during the remaining matches of its Indigenous Round.

‘Don’t attack them. Just go, “You must have really listened to be able to come up with that outcome,”‘ she said. 

Jacobs also reposted an Instagram Story from the left-wing women’s website Mamamia, which read: ‘I am an Aboriginal woman. Don’t ask me to mourn the Queen’s death’

Jacobs said in a lengthy post that she felt conflicted about her father’s MBE and meeting with the Queen

She also noted how her father, who died in 2018, ‘had a great fondness for Queen Elizabeth’  

Hours before her appearance on Studio 10, Jacobs posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan: ‘Another Day in the Colony.’

She also reposted an Instagram Story from the left-wing women’s website Mamamia, which read: ‘I am an Aboriginal woman. Don’t ask me to mourn the Queen’s death.’

Queen Elizabeth was born 138 years after Australia was colonised by Britain in 1788.

Queen Elizabeth (pictured in the drawing room at Balmoral, Scotland, last Tuesday, two days before her death) was born 138 years after Australia was colonised by Britain in 1788

Queen Elizabeth visited Australia 16 times during her 70-year reign. In 2002 she famously watched a cultural show at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Cairns.

Australia has joined much of the world in mourning Queen Elizabeth II, as her death prompts the first change in head of state in more than seven decades.

A statement from Buckingham Palace early on Friday (AEST) confirmed the 96-year-old’s death.

Queen Elizabeth visited Australia 16 times during her 70-year reign. In 2002 she famously watched a cultural show at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Cairns (pictured)

‘The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,’ Buckingham Palace said.

‘The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the Queen, who is succeeded by her son King Charles III in a move that is expected to renew Australia’s republican debate.

‘An historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end,’ Mr Albanese said in a statement.

Australia has joined much of the world in mourning Queen Elizabeth II, as her death prompts the first change in head of state in more than seven decades. She is pictured receiving flowers from schoolchildren waving flags after a Commonwealth Day Service in Sydney in March 2006

‘The government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the royal family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.’

Mr Albanese said that ‘from her famous first trip to Australia, the only reigning sovereign to ever visit, it was clear Her Majesty held a special place in her heart for Australia.

‘Fifteen more tours before cheering crowds in every part of our country confirmed the special place she held in ours.’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his condolences to the Royal Family, the British people, and all his own citizens who held Her Majesty in the highest regard

He praised the Queen’s relationship with Australia and the rest of the world.

‘As monarch for more than half the life of our Federation, the relationship between Australia and Britain matured and evolved throughout Her Majesty’s reign,’ he said.

‘The Queen greeted each and every change with understanding, good grace and an abiding faith in the Australian people’s good judgment.

‘This was the deft and diplomatic way she bound the diversity of the modern Commonwealth, nations around the world who will mourn her passing.

‘This time of mourning will pass but the deep respect and warm regard in which Australians always held Her Majesty will never fade.’

The Queen first visited Australia with Prince Philip in 1954, arriving on the SS Gothic which steamed into Sydney Harbour after almost six weeks at sea. She is pictured with Prince Philip at Parliament House in Canberra during that tour

The Queen visited Australia in 1954, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2011 – her last time on these shores. She is pictured in 1981 

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was queen of the UK and 14 Commonwealth realms including Australia, since her reign began in February 1952.

Governor-General David Hurley said Australians should take inspiration from the Queen’s contribution.

‘She was a truly remarkable person,’ he said in a statement.

The Queen’s last visit to Australia came in 2011 when then Labor prime minister Julia Gillard described her as ‘a vital constitutional part of Australian democracy’. She is pictured in Perth during that trip

‘When I reflect on my own memories – she was my Queen for my whole life – I think of Her Majesty’s dignity and her compassion. Her dedication and tireless work ethic. And her selflessness and unwavering commitment to the people that she served. To us.’

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton was thankful for the Queen’s dedicated service.

‘Today, a comforting warmth has left the world. One of humanity’s brightest lights has gone out,’ he said.