During President Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, four individuals were apprehended after unauthorised images were beamed onto the exterior of Windsor Castle. Among the projections was a photograph depicting Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious sex offender once associated with him.
The demonstration took place as Trump engaged in official events with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, situated approximately 25 miles west of London. Protestors displayed banners and utilised a projector to cast images onto the castle walls during the evening, an act described by Thames Valley Police as a “public stunt.”
Police confirmed the arrests, explaining the individuals were detained on suspicion of malicious communications.
“Four adults were arrested on suspicion of malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor. We take any unauthorised activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously. 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,” Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker stated.
The images included a 1997 photo of Epstein with Trump at the latter’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Also displayed was Trump’s mugshot from legal proceedings related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Reports indicate additional projections featured a letter purportedly penned by Trump to Epstein, referring to him as a “pal” and wishing him a “wonderful secret” birthday—although the White House has denied its authenticity.
Trump’s relationship with Epstein reportedly ended in the mid-2000s. Trump has claimed Epstein recruited female staff from Mar-a-Lago for his own purposes, saying recently, “When I found out that he was stealing young women from my Mar-a-Lago club, I told him, ‘Get out of here.’”
The incident coincides with ongoing public scrutiny over the Justice Department’s refusal to disclose law enforcement files related to Epstein’s criminal activities, with authorities citing victim privacy and sensitive evidence as concerns.
The scandal has also implicated other high-profile figures. Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles III, has been heavily criticised for his connections to Epstein. Early in 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II revoked his military titles and royal patronages amid a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of a minor under Epstein’s control. Andrew denied all allegations but agreed to an out-of-court settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre, which included a donation to a victims’ rights charity.
More recently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Peter Mandelson from his post as ambassador to the United States after emails surfaced revealing Mandelson’s close ties to Epstein. The documents showed Mandelson had referred to Epstein as his “best pal” and supported efforts for Epstein’s early release.
Epstein’s former confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains imprisoned after her 2022 conviction for recruiting underage girls for Epstein’s abuse. She is serving a 20-year sentence and has filed an appeal expected to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.