--- title: "Uncle Robbie Thorpe's genocide case against King Charles rejected" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-28T19:05:32.952Z" source_reported: "2026-09-28T15:54:06.173Z" updated: "2026-09-28T19:05:32.952Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 40 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-28T20:45:22.494894+00:00" --- # Uncle Robbie Thorpe's genocide case against King Charles rejected *Australian court rules monarch has common law immunity, activist plans international appeal.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies and specific individuals, but relies on anonymous sourcing for legal immunity details. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Explains the legal context and potential next steps, quoting legal experts and the activist. - Hype 40 of 100, lower is better. Headline is direct and factual, but the story includes some loaded language about the activist's claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Three Australian appellate judges rejected activist Uncle Robbie Thorpe's attempt to prosecute King Charles III for alleged genocide. - Thorpe's case argued the King, Australian government, and institutions perpetuate genocide through systemic disadvantage of Indigenous people. - The judges cited the King's common law immunity, a principle likely inherited by Australia from the UK. - Thorpe intends to take his allegations to the International Criminal Court if domestic legal avenues are exhausted. An activist's effort to prosecute King Charles III for genocide has been rejected by three Australian appellate judges. Uncle Robbie Thorpe, an elder of the Krautatungalung people, sought to bring charges against the monarch, the Australian government, and various institutions. His case alleged that these entities perpetuate genocide by maintaining systems that disadvantage Indigenous people, who comprise about four per cent of Australia's population and experience poorer socioeconomic outcomes. The Victoria state's Court of Appeal ruled against Thorpe, leaving him with a final domestic recourse: seeking permission to appeal to the High Court of Australia. Thorpe has faced legal defeats since initiating the private prosecution in 2023. He stated that he did not anticipate a fair hearing in Australia and plans to present his allegations to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. ## Disagreement on legal basis CTV News reported that the British monarch possesses common law immunity in the UK, a protection likely inherited by Australia. Sydney University constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey, as cited by CTV News, stated this immunity extends to personal acts outside official power. CTV News also noted that the International Criminal Court does not recognise head of state immunity and has jurisdiction over genocide, but does not permit private prosecutions. International lawyer Don Rothwell, quoted by CTV News, explained that individuals cannot commence a prosecution at the ICC; they can only provide evidence for the Office of the Prosecutor to consider. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians that Thorpe's case cited as evidence of systemic disadvantage. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians that Thorpe's case cited as evidence of systemic disadvantage. ## Who covered it Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (10) - Centre: 33% (6) - Right: 17% (3) 1 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-28T20:45:22.494894+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-28T21:00:21.346Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the rejection of Uncle Robbie Thorpe's bid to prosecute King Charles III for genocide. Multiple digests noted the ruling by three Australian appellate judges and the activist's intention to pursue the case internationally. The digests from Stuff and The Border Mail, among others, highlighted Thorpe's plan to take his allegations to the International Criminal Court. Several left-rated digests, including those from Newser, The Seattle Times, and ABC News, stated that the activist's bid was rejected. The digests from The Independent and The Independent (US) also mentioned the activist's plan to appeal to the High Court of Australia. The Border Mail and The Canberra Times digests reported that Australia is 'in denial' after the king's criminal case failed. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted the rejection of Uncle Robbie Thorpe's legal action against King Charles III. Digests from My Mother Lode, Winnipeg Free Press, and Newsday stated that three Australian appellate judges rejected the activist's bid to prosecute the monarch for alleged genocide. PerthNow and The West Australian digests reported that Australia is 'in denial' after the king's criminal case failed, and that the activist hopes to take the fight to an international court. Newsday and Chronicle Online digests mentioned that Thorpe has one final domestic option to appeal to the High Court of Australia. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on the rejection of Uncle Robbie Thorpe's attempt to prosecute King Charles III for alleged genocide. Digests from The Washington Times and GB News stated that Australian appellate judges rejected the activist's bid. The digests from PerthNow and The West Australian, also rated right, reported that Australia is 'in denial' after the king's criminal case failed and that the activist hopes to take the fight to an international court. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 8 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/28/australian-court-rejecting-activists-bid-prosecute-britains-king) — Australian court rejects activist's bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [Newser](https://newser.com/story/397175/court-no-king-charles-cant-be-prosecuted-for-genocide.html) — Court: No, King Charles Can't Be Prosecuted for Genocide - [Mediafax](https://mediafax.ro/externe/intorsatura-de-situatie-ce-se-intampla-cu-procesul-de-genocid-deschis-impotriva-regelui-charles-23815639) — What's Going on with the Open Genocide Process Against King Charles? - [GB News](https://gbnews.com/royal/royal-news-activist-prosecute-king-charles-alleged-genocide-appeal-rejected-courts) — Activist trying to prosecute King Charles for alleged genocide has appeal rejected by courts - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/canada/royal-family/article/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-to-prosecute-king-charles-for-genocide) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute King Charles for genocide - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/world/11175240/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-to-prosecute-britains-king-charles-for-genocide.html) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain’s King Charles for genocide - [Stuff](https://stuff.co.nz/world-news/361039526/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-prosecute-britains) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/australia/australian-court-rejects-activist-s-bid-to-prosecute-britain-s-king-charles-for-genocide/article_3d805a8c-7e83-5515-808b-5b441879d882.html) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain’s King Charles for genocide - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/28/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-to-prosecute-britains-king-charles-for-genocide) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-to-prosecute-britains-king-charles-for-genocide) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain’s King Charles for genocide - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/australia-court-king-charles-genocide-indigenous-t19600) — Australian court rejects activist's bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [Chronicle Online](https://chronicleonline.com/news/world/australian-court-rejects-activist-s-bid-to-prosecute-britains-king-charles-for-genocide/article_5a316453-0b6d-5a63-940d-1a3509e06585.html) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/australian-britain-international-criminal-court-melbourne-court-of-appeal-b3057541.html) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/australian-britain-international-criminal-court-melbourne-court-of-appeal-b3057541.html) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/australia-court-king-charles-genocide-indigenous-dabf577eb10398281db26e6f95db901b) — Australian court rejects activist’s bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-prosecute-britains-king-136817323) — Australian court rejects bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide - [PerthNow](https://perthnow.com.au/news/indigenous-australians/australia-in-denial-after-kings-criminal-case-fails-c-22937571) — Australia 'in denial' after king's criminal case fails - [The West Australian](https://thewest.com.au/news/indigenous-australians/australia-in-denial-after-kings-criminal-case-fails-c-22937567) — Australia 'in denial' after king's criminal case fails - [The Border Mail](https://bordermail.com.au/story/9358836/australia-in-denial-after-kings-criminal-case-fails) — Australia 'in denial' after king's criminal case fails - [The Canberra Times](https://canberratimes.com.au/story/9358836/australia-in-denial-after-kings-criminal-case-fails) — Australia 'in denial' after king's criminal case fails ## Questions **Why was Uncle Robbie Thorpe's case against King Charles rejected?** Three Australian appellate judges rejected the case, citing the King's common law immunity. This legal protection is a principle likely inherited by Australia from the United Kingdom, shielding the monarch from prosecution. **What are Uncle Robbie Thorpe's next steps?** Thorpe has one final domestic legal option: seeking permission to appeal to the High Court of Australia. If he exhausts his domestic legal avenues, he plans to take his allegations of genocide to the International Criminal Court. **What was the basis of Thorpe's genocide allegations?** Thorpe's case alleged that King Charles, the Australian government, and its institutions perpetuate genocide by maintaining systems that disadvantage Indigenous people. Indigenous Australians experience worse socioeconomic outcomes compared to other Australians. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Uncle Robbie Thorpe's genocide case against King Charles rejected", https://mediabias.news/politics/uncle-robbie-thorpes-genocide-case-against-king-charles-rejected