Four men arrested after images of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle ahead of the US president’s state visit have been released on conditional bail, police have confirmed.
Arrests and Charges
Thames Valley Police said the men, aged 36, 37, 50 and 60, were detained on suspicion of offences including malicious communications and public nuisance. They have been bailed until 12 December while investigations continue.
The footage, which appeared on the exterior wall of the castle on Tuesday night, featured images of Trump and the late convicted sex offender Epstein alongside quotes and headlines about their relationship. A van carrying similar imagery was also spotted in Windsor on Wednesday morning with the message: “Welcome to the UK, Donald.”
Political Backdrop
The incident came as Trump began his second state visit to Britain, meeting King Charles and senior royals at Windsor Castle on Wednesday before scheduled talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers on Thursday.
Trump was friends with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s but has never been accused of wrongdoing in relation to the disgraced financier, who died in prison in 2019.
The visit also follows the dismissal of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington last week, after details emerged about his ties to Epstein.
Protest Group Response
The projection was carried out by members of the campaign group Led By Donkeys, which has previously made headlines for projecting satirical political messages onto buildings.
A spokesperson said the arrests were “ridiculous” and “heavy-handed”, adding: “I think they’ve been arrested for embarrassing Donald Trump.”
Protests and Security
Most of the pageantry surrounding the state visit has taken place within the grounds of Windsor Castle, limiting opportunities for large-scale demonstrations. Protests did occur in London and on a smaller scale in Windsor, but were heavily policed.
The men’s bail conditions have not been made public. Thames Valley Police said inquiries into the projection incident were ongoing.
