The Unfolding Events: The Evening The Activist Group Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s upcoming official trip, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on 17 September 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys felt compelled not to let it pass without a statement. The gesture of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as particularly craven. Their next creative protest proceeded like clockwork.
A Deliberate Message
Activists created a short documentary detailing Donald Trump’s relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States was a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious child sex trafficker. He’s alleged to be mentioned, repeatedly, in documents from the criminal probe into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump has stated he ended his friendship with Epstein years before Epstein’s initial legal troubles and has consistently denied all allegations in relation to Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with “castle view” and, more crucially, superior castle views, said group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned a Bluetooth speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
International press was assembled, staring at the castle, growing restless as Trump was delayed. Their film, spread rapidly globally. “Although the still pictures of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary provides viewers something tangible to share, implying: ‘There’s something really serious to examine here.’ It was an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed 20m times.”
The Moment of Projection
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires a cylindrical building requires a little bit of mapping,” Stewart states. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt goes through the officers nearby, and they raced into the hotel.”
Not Their First Protest
This was not their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first action against Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider near the resort where the president was staying in Scotland. The following year, officers warned him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
However, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” The police response was swift, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “Wearing jumpsuits and caps. They’d finally found some protesters. They charged up the stairs; prepared; tasked to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no guns. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. It helped that officers were unsure under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to deal with a really concerning offence. To throw it at an act of journalism, displayed on a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, then soon after was on a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.
An Ironic Interrogation
Later in the middle of the night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, this time for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – a twist which was palpable, given the focus of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. The activists just answered all queries with: “No comment.” A few minutes into the interview, police presented a photo: “They asked, did you take the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: an image of a giant projector, secured to several drawers. Then, the detectives struggled to maintain their composure.”
The Final Result
A little more than a month later, all charges was dismissed.
