The stone walls of Windsor Castle became an unwelcome canvas on Tuesday night, September 16. Protesters projected images of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein onto the royal residence, just hours before Trump’s scheduled meetings with King Charles and other senior royals.
Thames Valley Police arrested four men on suspicion of malicious communications and public nuisance. The suspects are a 60-year-old from East Sussex, a 37-year-old from Kent, and two Londoners aged 36 and 50. All four have been released on conditional bail until December 12.
They timed this deliberately. Trump had just arrived in London for his second state visit to Britain and would spend Wednesday at the castle with King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family.
Windsor Castle Projection Leads to Four Arrests
Led By Donkeys, a political campaign group known for attention-grabbing stunts, claimed responsibility. They operated from a hotel room window across from the castle and broadcast a nine-minute video showing Trump alongside Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.
The footage included photographs of Trump and Epstein together. It also showed both men with Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell. The craziest part was what protesters claimed was a lewd birthday message Trump sent for Epstein’s 50th birthday book in 2003. Trump and the White House have, however, denied writing this message.
A Led By Donkeys spokesperson called the arrests “heavy-handed” and “ridiculous.” The group pointed out that they had done 25 to 30 previous projections without any arrests. “I think they’ve been arrested for embarrassing Donald Trump,” the spokesperson said.
Bad Timing with the Birthday Book
The week before, on September 8, the House Oversight Committee released documents from Epstein’s birthday book. A collection of messages from friends and associates for his 50th birthday in 2003. The committee forced Epstein’s estate to hand over the papers, bringing Trump’s old friendship with the convicted sex offender back into the headlines.
Trump admits he knew Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s but says they fell out long ago. In July, he claimed their friendship ended after Epstein stole staff from Mar-a-Lago. Trump says he hasn’t spoken to Epstein in 15 years and denies any wrongdoing.
The same documents cost Britain’s ambassador to the United States his job. Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired Lord Mandelson after the book showed a message where the diplomat called Epstein “my best pal.”
The projection creates another awkward moment for what was meant to celebrate British-American friendship. The royal family has its own painful history with Epstein through Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his relationship with the convicted sex offender. Queen Elizabeth II later stripped Andrew of his military titles and royal positions after he failed to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse.
Both governments were working quite hard to avoid exactly this kind of embarrassment. Trump’s state visit was planned to keep him away from protesters and potential trouble.
Led By Donkeys Says It Worked
For Led By Donkeys, the arrests may have been worth it. The group specializes in high-profile political stunts designed to grab attention. They’ve projected messages onto government buildings before and done other attention-grabbing protests without facing criminal charges.
Their spokesperson called the projection a “peaceful protest” and questioned why this particular stunt crossed a legal line when previous ones did not. The group sees the arrests as proof that they embarrassed Trump during his diplomatic visit.
The charges suggest police saw this as more than a simple political protest. Malicious communications and public nuisance mean authorities believe the stunt crossed into harassment or caused public disorder.
Both Governments Wanted to Avoid This
Trump met King Charles and other royals on Wednesday at Windsor Castle in meetings designed to strengthen the relationship between Britain and America. The Epstein connections serve as an unwanted reminder of troubles both leaders would prefer to forget. Though some would argue these connections shouldn’t be forgotten at all.
British authorities had to balance protecting visiting dignitaries with allowing legitimate protest. The arrests suggest they chose Trump’s comfort over Britain’s traditional tolerance for political demonstration.
The state visit ended Thursday with Trump meeting Prime Minister Starmer at Chequers, the PM’s country estate in Buckinghamshire. Both leaders hoped to talk about trade and security rather than answer questions about decades-old friendships with a convicted sex offender.
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The Epstein Papers Keep Coming
The Epstein birthday book comes from a wider investigation into Epstein’s network. The House Oversight Committee has ordered former officials to testify, including former Attorney General Merrick Garland and both Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served during Trump’s first term when Epstein died in jail, told the committee he knew of no evidence that Epstein procured women for Trump. But the questions keep coming, and protesters like Led By Donkeys make sure they stay visible.
A van appeared in Windsor on Wednesday morning, displaying Trump and Epstein’s image with the message “Welcome to the UK, Donald.” The protesters planned to follow Trump throughout his visit.
Nine Minutes That Stole the Headlines
The four arrested men wait for their December court date, but their message already reached its target. Political protests fight for attention. Projecting Trump’s most uncomfortable ties onto Britain’s most famous landmark delivered global coverage.
Nobody knows what legal trouble awaits, but Led By Donkeys turned Trump’s managed state visit into something both governments wanted to avoid.
The Windsor Castle projection ran just nine minutes but created headlines that will outlast Trump’s entire visit. For a group doing political theater, that was the point.
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