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

When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass unprotested. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as especially servile. Their next creative protest unfolded with precision.

A Provocative Film

The group produced a nine-minute film detailing Donald Trump’s relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The president of the United States is alleged to have been a longstanding associate of America’s most notorious sex offender. His name is said to be referenced, numerous times, in documents from the criminal probe into Epstein … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is a guest within Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s initial legal troubles and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.)

Preparations and Execution

The activists had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast “castle view” and, more crucially, superior castle views, said a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, hidden inside a cereal box, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.

The world’s media was assembled, staring at the castle, growing restless awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, spread rapidly globally. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. Our documentary provides viewers something tangible to share, implying: ‘There’s something significant to look at here.’ We took an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”

The Moment of Projection

It started with the official Windsor Castle logo. “It requires a cylindrical building needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart states. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. The police are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt passed through the officers around me, and the police all pile into the hotel.”

Not Their First Protest

This was not the group’s first rodeo; it wasn’t even their first action targeting Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider near the hotel where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.

Confrontation with Police

However, the group's creators were not overly concerned about arrest. “All my anxiety is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police make the intervention, the message is already out.” The police response was swift, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They charged up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘Let’s keep this calm.’”

Delaying a large number of police officers is a long time. The fact that officers were unsure which law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “one officer began reciting a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three other team members were subsequently detained for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “and it’s very specific: it’s designed to address a serious offence. Applying it to 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 slipped away, then soon after boarded a train leaving 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 re-arrested them, now 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 subject matter of the protest involved alleged sex offender. Knowles and his associates just answered every question with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photo: “‘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 knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”

The Outcome

Just over a month later, every charge were dropped.