A leg of the Commonwealth Games baton relay was held up on Australia’s Gold Coast on Wednesday as indigenous Aboriginal activists demanded Britain’s royal family members ask permission to visit “stolen” land.

The relay, officially called the Queen’s Baton Relay, was blocked by a few dozen protesters in the suburb of Southport, causing a delay of about an hour.

Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Show all 17 1 /17 Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Carrara Stadium The 25,000-seater stadium normally used for Aussie Rules will play host to athletics, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Carrara Stadium GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 06: General view of preparations at Metricon Stadium on November 6, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast in April, with the track & field events at Metricon Stadium. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Broadbeach Bowls Club Venue for the lawn bowls competition. Getty Images for GOLDOC Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Coomera Indoor Sports Centre The venue for badminton, powerlifting, weightlifting and wrestling. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Coomera Sports Centre It will host gymnastics and netball. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Coomera Sports Centre Gymnastics and netball will be played at Coomera. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Oxenford Studios A look at where the boxing will take place. Getty Images for GOLDOC Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Oxenford Studios Table tennis will also take place at the studios. Getty Images for GOLDOC Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Coolangatta Beachfront The beach volleyball stadium Getty Images for GOLDOC Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Robina Stadium Rugby 7s will be played here, the home of the rugby league side Gold Coast Titans. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Gold Coast Aquatic Centre Swimming and diving will take place in a open stadium close to the city. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Gold Coast Aquatic Centre GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MAY 17: Aerial views of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre can be seen, it will be the venue for swimming and diving at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, May 17, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast from April 4th to 15th next year. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Gold Coast Aquatic Centre GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Swimmers train at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, venue for swimming and diving for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on April 6, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. This week makes one year to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Southport This will be the home of the triathlon. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Southport The marathon course will be stretched out along the coast. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Convention and Exhibiton Centre Basketball finals and netball preliminaries will be played here. Getty Images Commonwealth Games 2018 – venues Convention and Exhibiton Centre GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: A map of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, venue of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Main Press Centre, basketball finals and preliminary netball for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on April 6, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. This week makes one year to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Getty Images

The protest was organised by a coalition of indigenous rights groups under the banner of “Stolenwealth Games”.

“Today what we wanted to do was to make it clear to the mob, make it clear to the world and make it clear to our people that we’re standing strong,” a protester told host broadcaster Seven Network.

“And we don’t want nothing of the Commonwealth here. They’ve stolen the land, built this country on stolen wages, built this country on the blood and bones of our people.

“And it’s about time that history is acknowledged and about time that the royal families who are responsible for it all - that they come down here and get at our level and ask to be here on our country. That’s what needs to happen.”

Aboriginals inhabited Australia at least 50,000 years before Britain's "First Fleet" sailed into Sydney harbour in 1788 and declared the land unoccupied.

There are about 700,000 aboriginal Australians in a population of 23 million, but they suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment, tracking near the bottom in almost every economic and social indicator.