What Happened Next: The Night The Activist Group Projected Images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle

When the announcement was made for Donald Trump’s second state visit, including a royal dinner at Windsor on 17 September 2025, the protest group Led By Donkeys felt compelled not to let it pass unprotested. The act of offering a lavish welcome seemed particularly craven. Their subsequent art-activist event unfolded with precision.

A Deliberate Message

The group produced a nine-minute film exploring the connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States was a longstanding associate of the nation's most infamous sex offender. His name is said to be mentioned, numerous times, in the files related to the investigation into that individual … Now that president, Donald Trump, is sleeping here within Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and has consistently denied all allegations in relation to Epstein.)

The Setup

The group had booked rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with “castle view” and, even more helpfully, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned a Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a public rubbish bin outside.

International press was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, spread rapidly globally. “While photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that convinces people of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. Our documentary provides viewers something tangible to share, implying: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed by millions.”

The Moment of Projection

The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. Officers are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – the royal family,’ and suddenly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein appears. A wave of shock passed through the officers nearby, and the police all pile into the hotel.”

Not Their First Protest

This was not their inaugural action; nor was it their first effort targeting Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider near the resort where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee.

The Arrests

But, the activists were not overly concerned about arrest. “All my anxiety is channelled into ensuring the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “Once the police make the intervention, the message is already out.” The police response was swift, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They had located the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; they were on a mission to protect the president. Fortunately, no guns. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’”

Delaying multiple police officers for six minutes. It helped that they were unsure under what law to charge anyone. When they finally entered the room, “one officer 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 activists were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a stalking law. “The law is precise: its purpose is to address a serious offence. To throw it at a piece of journalism, displayed on a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. While the others were detained, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.

A Second Arrest and Questioning

Some time that night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, this time for public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – an irony which was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. Knowles and his associates just answered every question with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you take the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: a picture of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. At that point, the detectives struggled to maintain their composure.”

The Final Result

Just over one month later, all charges were dropped.