Thousands of Brexit protesters marched through London waving European flags and chanting “We love you EU,” as the queen urged calm after Britain’s stunning vote to quit the bloc.
Demonstrators shouted “Shame on you” as they walked past Downing Street, venting their anger at outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron who called last month’s referendum to leave the EU.
Organisers said more than 40,000 took part in the march, where demonstrators waved colourful banners reading “Breverse”, “The Leave Campaign Lied” and and “Never Gonna Give EU Up” — referring to the 1980s hit by Rick Astley.
“Baguettes not regrets,” chanted others as they headed towards Parliament in the second protest against Brexit on London’s streets in under a week.
“I think the Leave campaign misled people, we are (making) a wrong decision because of the lies,” protestor Casey, 37, told media.
In a move that sent world financial markets crashing, Britons on June 23 backed withdrawing from the 28-member EU. Many cited immigration concerns as the reason to leave the bloc.
The narrow victory has triggered anger in Britain among those who wanted to remain and more than four million people have signed a petition calling for another vote.
“There must be a second referendum. Everybody knows that if there is.. we’ll vote to stay,” said former television producer Nicholas Light, 82, on Saturday’s march.
Musician Bob Geldof, who led a flotilla of boats down the Thames as part of the “Remain” campaign, urged supporters to “take to the streets”.
“Come out. Take action amongst your friends, work colleagues and in your neighbourhoods,” he said.
– ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ –
The vote has laid bare serious divisions in Britain.
Younger voters — many of whom worried about their right to travel and work in the EU — mainly voted to remain while their baby boomer elders were likelier to have voted Leave.
Queen Elizabeth urged calm in an “increasingly challenging world”, in what some commentators suggested could refer to the situation after the Brexit vote.
“As this parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for quiet thinking and contemplation,” she said, while opening a new session of the Scottish parliament in Holyrood.
The BBC’s Scottish political editor, Brian Taylor, said the queen’s first comments since the Brexit vote could be seen as “a ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ message”.
The remarks appeared aimed “at the wider body politic, at those in Holyrood, Westminster and elsewhere who now have to cope with the impact of the vote to leave the EU,” he wrote.
Voters in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the capital London backed remaining, while those that chose to leave were largely from less affluent areas in England and Wales.
The vote has re-ignited the debate over Scotland becoming independent, after voters chose to stay part of the United Kingdom in 2014.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon went to Brussels Wednesday to press Scotland’s desire stay in the bloc, and says a second independence referendum is now “on the table”.
– ‘Worried? Yes’ –
The vote prompted the resignation of Cameron, who called the referendum in a bid to decide the long-contentious issue once and for all. He backed the failed Remain campaign.
It also unleashed a bitter leadership battle in the ruling Conservative party and chaos in the main opposition Labour party, whose leader Jeremy Corbyn is now facing all-out revolt.
The favourites to succeed Cameron, Theresa May and high-profile rival Michael Gove, have pushed for a delay in starting the process that will eventually see Britain leave the 28-member bloc.
EU leaders have urged a swift divorce, fearful of the impact of Britain’s uncertain future on economic growth and a potential domino effect in eurosceptic member states.
The shock vote plunged financial markets into crisis, wiping trillions off equities around the world and sending the pound to its lowest point against the dollar in more than three decades.
The Bank of England has said it could slash interest rates this summer, while finance minister George Osborne has warned the government would abandon its promise to achieve a budget surplus by 2020.
Financial movers and shakers gathered in southern France on Saturday to discuss the fallout from Brexit, urging a clear and timely political response to end uncertainty about what will happen next.
“Worried? Yes,” said Carlos Ghosn, head of carmaking giant Renault-Nissan. “Not because of Brexit, but worried by the uncertainty that has engendered.”
Read more: Thousands march through London to protest against Brexit vote
