What Happened Next: The Night The Activist Group Beamed Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle

When the announcement was made for the former president's upcoming official trip, including a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go unprotested. The gesture of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as especially servile. Their next art-activist event unfolded like clockwork.

A Provocative Film

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 America’s most notorious child sex trafficker. His name is said to be referenced, repeatedly, in the files related to the criminal probe into Epstein … Now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and has consistently denied any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)

The Setup

The activists had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with “castle view” and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, according to a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.

International press was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, growing restless awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, spread rapidly globally. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary gives people a social object to share, implying: ‘This is something really serious to look at here.’ We took 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. “It requires the castle's round tower needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. The police are thinking: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock passed through the officers around me, 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. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the resort 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.

Confrontation with Police

But, the activists were not especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” The police response was swift, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “Wearing jumpsuits and caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this really calm.’”

Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. It helped that officers didn’t know which law to charge anyone. When they finally entered the room, “one officer began reciting a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three additional team members were then arrested for malicious communications, a stalking law. “The law is precise: its purpose is to deal with a really concerning offence. To throw it at a piece of journalism, projected on to a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, appeared contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, then soon after boarded a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.

An Ironic Interrogation

Later that night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, this time for public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – a twist that was palpable, given the subject matter of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. Knowles and his associates responded to every question with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you take the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anyone who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: a picture of a large projector, secured to four drawers. Then, the detectives struggled to maintain their composure.”

The Outcome

Just over a month later, all charges was dismissed.