The king was your ruler, you tossed him out. Hence became traitors to your homeland.
Was is correct, and traitors to the crown is correct, just because you enjoy living under an archaic tribal form of government doesn't mean everyone else has to. In fact most of the world has gotten rid of rulers conceived between the sheets.
Starving people to death is the benchmark is it? Have you had a chance to visit the slums? People starve in the U.S. daily and aside from humanitarians, no one gives a rat's a$$. Sure people SAY they care, but damned if they had to put their money where their collective mouth is.
And? I don't see your queen running to house your homeless either. So what EXACTLY is her purpose? And what EXACTLY does she do anyway, other than look down upon her "subjects"?