Windsor Castle, a symbol of British tradition and royal grandeur, found itself at the center of a political storm this week as activists projected images of U.S. President Donald Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto its storied walls. The act, which took place on the eve of Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, quickly escalated into a headline-grabbing incident, resulting in the arrest and subsequent bail of four men on suspicion of malicious communications and public nuisance.
According to BBC, the four men—aged 60 from East Sussex, 36 and 50 from London, and 37 from Kent—were detained after a nine-minute video was beamed from a hotel room directly facing Windsor Castle. The projection, orchestrated by the political campaign group Led By Donkeys, included not only images of Trump and Epstein together but also quotes and headlines detailing their past association, as well as a recently revealed letter allegedly written by Trump to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The activists’ aim, as they told The Guardian, was to ensure that the president’s "incredibly close links to America’s most notorious child sex trafficker" were not left out of the public conversation during his high-profile visit.
The timing of the stunt was no accident. As The Independent reported, Led By Donkeys began planning the projection as soon as the state visit dates were announced in July. They arrived at the hotel with their projector concealed in luxury luggage and mapped out the castle’s façade by first projecting the royal crest, ensuring their images would fit perfectly. Once the main video began, police responded within minutes, but the activists managed to complete the full nine-minute film before officers intervened. "We deliberately did it just before he arrived, so that the police wouldn’t be concerned for his (Donald Trump’s) safety," a spokesperson for the group explained.
Thames Valley Police, responsible for security during the state visit, confirmed that a 24-hour operation was in place, with temporary airspace restrictions imposed over Windsor until September 18. Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker emphasized the seriousness with which they regard unauthorized activity around the castle, stating, "Our officers responded swiftly to stop the projection and four people have been arrested. We are conducting a thorough investigation with our partners into the circumstances surrounding this incident and will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so." The men were released on conditional bail until December 12, 2025, as the investigation continues.
The incident has sparked debate about the boundaries of protest and free speech. Led By Donkeys, known for their creative and often provocative activism, expressed frustration at the police response. "My colleagues were arrested for malicious communications, which seems ridiculous, because we’ve done 25 or 30 projections before, no one’s ever been arrested," a spokesperson told The Independent. "So suddenly, because it’s Trump, you get this reaction, which is surprising, disappointing and very heavy-handed from police. I think they’ve been arrested for embarrassing Donald Trump. It’s because Donald Trump’s got a very thin skin. They’re protecting his ego."
The projection was not the only act of protest to greet Trump’s arrival. Another activist group, Everyone Hates Elon, unfurled what they called the "world’s largest photo" of Trump and Epstein just outside Windsor Castle, though this banner was quickly removed. Meanwhile, about 70 members of the Stop Trump Coalition gathered peacefully outside the castle, chanting slogans such as "Trump out" and "Say it loud, say it clear: Donald Trump not welcome here." Jake Atkinson, spokesperson for the coalition, explained their stance to The Guardian: "Donald Trump’s politics are politics of fascism and authoritarianism. Not only are we making our voices heard in opposition to Trump and his politics, but we want to send a signal to our government, that this is not how the British people feel, it’s not what the British people want."
The protests also touched on wider issues. Demonstrators expressed solidarity with people in the U.S., Palestine, and Ukraine—nations they say have been affected by Trump’s policies. The event echoed the massive protests during Trump’s first state visit in 2019, though this time, the iconic "Trump Baby" blimp—a symbol of earlier demonstrations—was absent. Its creator, Leo Murray, told The Independent that the political climate has shifted: "Back in 2019, Donald Trump was a figure of fun for the British public. Most people thought he was an idiot, and we were amazed that the American people had elected this guy to be the president." Now, he says, the mood is more somber, and the blimp has been retired to the Museum of London.
Windsor Castle itself was a hive of diplomatic activity, with Trump meeting King Charles and other senior royals on September 17, 2025. The president’s visit, which included a planned meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers the following day, was designated an "unprecedented honor" by some commentators. Yet the backdrop of controversy was hard to ignore. The White House has denied the authenticity of the letter to Epstein, and Trump has consistently stated that he ended his friendship with Epstein in 2004. No evidence has ever linked Trump to Epstein’s crimes, but the renewed focus on their association comes as U.S. House Democrats continue to release documents from Epstein’s estate.
The protests also cast a spotlight on Prince Andrew, King Charles’ younger brother, who was notably absent from the guest list for the state dinner. The palace’s decision to distance itself from Andrew follows years of damaging revelations about his own friendship with Epstein and the subsequent legal action brought by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers. Giuffre, who tragically took her own life earlier this year, had alleged that Epstein introduced her to Prince Andrew when she was 17, and that he sexually abused her on three occasions—claims Andrew has denied. The case was settled out of court in 2022, with no admission of liability.
For Led By Donkeys, the projection was a "fact-based piece of journalism," as they described it, intended to highlight what they see as an uncomfortable truth. "People say they want to see peaceful protests, but what can be more peaceful than legally hiring a hotel room and project images onto a wall?" their spokesperson asked. The group maintains they broke no laws, caused no damage, and endangered no one. "The only malicious thing is Trump’s relationship with Epstein," they asserted.
As the dust settles, questions linger about the implications of the police response for protest rights in the UK, especially when high-profile figures are involved. While the state visit proceeded as planned behind Windsor’s ancient walls, the images projected outside—and the debate they ignited—ensured that controversy remained very much in the spotlight.
