The Unfolding Events: The Night Led By Donkeys Beamed Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle

When plans were revealed for the former president's upcoming official trip, 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 gesture of offering a lavish welcome seemed particularly craven. Their next art-activist event proceeded with precision.

A Provocative Film

Activists created a nine-minute film detailing the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The commander-in-chief of the United States was a longstanding associate of America’s most notorious sex offender. His name is said to be referenced, numerous times, in documents related to the criminal probe into Epstein … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted all allegations in relation to Epstein.)

The Setup

The group had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.

The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. Their film, gained traction everywhere. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. The film we made gives people something tangible to share, implying: ‘There’s something really serious to examine here.’ We took an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”

The Reveal

The film began with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto a cylindrical building needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “First appeared this royal crest. Officers are thinking: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt passed through the police in fluorescent jackets around me, and they raced into the hotel.”

Not Their First Protest

It wasn't their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first action against Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider over the resort where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that if he tried again, they couldn’t guarantee.

Confrontation with Police

However, the group's creators were not especially worried about detainment. “All my anxiety goes into wanting the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “Once the police arrive, the die is cast.” The police response was rapid, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, highly agitated, he remembers. “Wearing jumpsuits and caps. They had located some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; tasked to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were extremely tense when they entered the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this calm.’”

Delaying a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that they didn’t know which law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “a policeman began reciting a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three additional team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to address 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 against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. While the others were detained, he melted into the crowd, then soon after was on a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.

A Second Arrest and Questioning

Later that night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, now for public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection squad – a twist that was palpable, given the focus of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. The activists responded to 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 bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: a picture of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to several drawers. Then, the officers were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”

The Final Result

Just over a month later, every charge were dropped.