🔗 Share this article The Unfolding Events: The Night The Activist Group Beamed 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 known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass without a statement. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as particularly craven. Their next art-activist event unfolded like clockwork. A Provocative Film The group produced a short documentary exploring the connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States was a long-time close friend of the nation's most infamous child sex trafficker. His name is said to be mentioned, repeatedly, in documents related to the investigation into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here within Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning Epstein.) The Setup The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, even more helpfully, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a powerful projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, on top of a public rubbish bin outside. The world’s media was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, growing restless as Trump was delayed. Their film, spread rapidly everywhere. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire 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: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.” The Moment of Projection The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt passed through the officers around me, and they all pile into the hotel.” A History of Activism This was not their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort against Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the hotel where the president was staying in Scotland. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured. The Arrests But, the group's creators were not especially worried about detainment. “All my anxiety goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was rapid, reaching the hotel within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They had located some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this really calm.’” Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that officers were unsure under what law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three other activists were subsequently detained for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: its purpose is to deal with a serious offence. To throw it at a piece of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter was on a train leaving Windsor, calling lawyers. A Second Arrest and Questioning Later in the middle of the night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, this time for causing a public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. When they came to be questioned, the only officers available were from the child protection unit – an irony that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved alleged sex offender. The activists responded to every question with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: a picture of a giant projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.” The Final Result A little more than a month later, every charge were dropped.
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 known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass without a statement. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as particularly craven. Their next art-activist event unfolded like clockwork. A Provocative Film The group produced a short documentary exploring the connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States was a long-time close friend of the nation's most infamous child sex trafficker. His name is said to be mentioned, repeatedly, in documents related to the investigation into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here within Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning Epstein.) The Setup The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, even more helpfully, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a powerful projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, on top of a public rubbish bin outside. The world’s media was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, growing restless as Trump was delayed. Their film, spread rapidly everywhere. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire 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: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.” The Moment of Projection The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt passed through the officers around me, and they all pile into the hotel.” A History of Activism This was not their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort against Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the hotel where the president was staying in Scotland. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured. The Arrests But, the group's creators were not especially worried about detainment. “All my anxiety goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was rapid, reaching the hotel within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They had located some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this really calm.’” Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that officers were unsure under what law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three other activists were subsequently detained for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: its purpose is to deal with a serious offence. To throw it at a piece of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter was on a train leaving Windsor, calling lawyers. A Second Arrest and Questioning Later in the middle of the night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, this time for causing a public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. When they came to be questioned, the only officers available were from the child protection unit – an irony that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved alleged sex offender. The activists responded to every question with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: a picture of a giant projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.” The Final Result A little more than a month later, every charge were dropped.