King Charles’ first official portrait, displayed at the Philip Mould Gallery in central London, was vandalized on Tuesday by activists from the animal rights group Animal Rising. The group’s dramatic protest aimed to draw attention to alleged animal cruelty on farms certified by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
In a video posted on social media, two activists are seen using a paint roller to affix signs over the monarch’s portrait. The portrait, created by artist Jonathan Yeo and depicting the king against a striking crimson background, had already sparked mixed reactions since its unveiling earlier this year. The activists covered the king’s head with an image of Wallace, a character from the British animated series “Wallace and Gromit,” alongside a speech bubble that read: “No cheese Gromit, look at all of this cruelty on RSPCA farms.”
The action by Animal Rising coincided with the release of their report on Sunday, which investigated 45 farms under the RSPCA Assured scheme. The scheme promises higher welfare standards, including more living space and a ban on cages. However, the group’s report alleged severe animal cruelty on all the farms visited. Animal Rising described the findings as “damning” and called for the RSPCA’s Assured scheme to be scrapped.
King Charles, who recently became the royal patron of the RSPCA, was targeted in the protest to highlight these issues. An Animal Rising activist told The Telegraph, “With King Charles being such a big fan of ‘Wallace and Gromit,’ we couldn’t think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms! Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA.”
The RSPCA responded swiftly, issuing a statement to CNN expressing their shock at the vandalism. They emphasized their commitment to animal welfare and stated, “Any concerns about welfare on RSPCA Assured certified farms are taken extremely seriously and RSPCA Assured is acting swiftly to look into these allegations.” The organization also condemned the illegal activity, stressing that such actions distract from the important work of improving animal welfare.
Philip Mould, owner of the gallery, confirmed that the painting sustained no damage due to a protective layer of Perspex. He said the adhesive stickers used by the activists were removed within seconds. Despite the incident, there are no plans to curtail the display of the portrait, which is scheduled to remain on view until June 21. Gallery staff have been advised to remain vigilant.
The Metropolitan Police Service visited the gallery in response to the circulating footage but reported no damage and no further action as the gallery chose not to file a crime report. The activists left the premises when asked.
This event underscores ongoing tensions between animal rights groups and agricultural practices, even as the monarchy’s involvement in animal welfare organizations is meant to symbolize support for humane treatment. The controversy over the portrait highlights broader issues about the intersection of activism, public figures, and institutional endorsements.
