The Unfolding Events: The Night The Activist Group Projected Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle

When plans were revealed for the former president's upcoming official trip, including a Windsor Castle banquet on 17 September 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass unprotested. The gesture of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as particularly craven. Their subsequent art-activist event unfolded with precision.

A Deliberate Message

The group produced a short documentary detailing the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States is alleged to have been a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. He’s alleged to be mentioned, repeatedly, in documents related to the criminal probe into Epstein … And now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest within Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and has consistently denied all allegations in relation to Epstein.)

The Setup

The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, even more helpfully, “castle view superior”, according to a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.

International press had gathered, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. The film, however, spread rapidly globally. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that convinces people of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made gives people a social object to share, saying: ‘There’s something really serious to examine here.’ It was an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed by millions.”

The Moment of Projection

It started with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto a cylindrical building needs some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. Officers are thinking: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. 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, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider near the hotel where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.

The Arrests

However, the group's creators weren't overly concerned about detainment. “My nervous energy is channelled into wanting the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police make the intervention, the die is cast.” The police response was swift, reaching the hotel within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They charged up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. 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 is a long time. The fact that they didn’t know which 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 asked him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three additional activists were then arrested for malicious communication, a stalking law. “The law is precise: its purpose is to address a serious offence. Applying it to a piece of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, appeared contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he slipped away, shortly thereafter was on a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.

A Second Arrest and Questioning

Some time that night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, now for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators belonged to the child protection squad – a twist that was palpable, given the focus of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. The activists just answered every question with: “I have no comment.” A few minutes into the interview, the officers slid over a photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘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, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to keep a straight face.”

The Outcome

Just over a month later, all charges were dropped.