Controversial new King Charles portrait vandalised with giant Wallace and Gromit sticker by animal rights protesters

11 June 2024, 13:46 | Updated: 11 June 2024, 15:52

Protesters covered the new portrait with an image from Wallace and Gromit.
Protesters covered the new portrait with an image from Wallace and Gromit. Picture: X/AnimalRising

By Jenny Medlicott

Animal Rising protesters have put a giant sticker over the new portrait of King Charles at the Philip Mould Gallery in London.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The protesters defaced the latest portrait of the King at around midday on Tuesday in an attack on the RSPCA.

A video shared by the group online shows two members from the group gluing over an image of Wallace, from the stop-motion animation Wallace and Gromit, over the King’s face and a speech bubble next to it.

The speech bubble reads: “No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSCPA farms!”

Animal Rising said the incident was aimed at highlighting the animal rights group's alleged "damning investigation" into 45 RSPCA "assured" farms.

Read more: Nigel Farage ducks for cover after man hurls missile at him on Reform UK battle bus, as suspect arrested

Read more: Last sighting of Dr Michael Mosley: New CCTV emerges showing health guru two hours before he died ‘of heat exhaustion’

The King is royal patron of the RSPCA and Animal Rising called on the monarch to suspend his support for the charity.

Daniel Juniper, a former early years practitioner and one of those involved, said: "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.

"Charles has made it clear he is sensitive to the suffering of animals in UK farms; now is the perfect time for him to step up and call on the RSPCA to drop the Assured Scheme and tell the truth about animal farming."

The portrait is on public display at the Philip Mould Gallery in London.

The protesters stuck the giant poster over the new portrait.
The protesters stuck the giant poster over the new portrait. Picture: X/AnimalRising

Last month, the artwork was unveiled as the first official portrait of the King since his Coronation.

It was first commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales’s 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company.

The artist Jonathan Yeo began the work in 2021 with the first sittings at Highgrove and Clarence House.

Animal Rising describes itself as a non-violent, people-powered organisation working towards a sustainable future where humanity shares a positive relationship with animals and nature.

The report on the RSPCA, released by Animal Rising on Sunday, contains findings from investigations on 45 farms across the UK featuring chickens, pigs, salmon, and trout.

It alleges 280 legal breaches and 94 breaches of Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) regulations, with Animal Rising calling on the RSPCA to drop the scheme.

The RSPCA said: "We are shocked by this vandalism of His Majesty King, our Patron’s, portrait.

"We welcome scrutiny of our work, but we cannot condone illegal activity of any kind. Our staff and volunteers work extremely hard rescuing, caring for, and speaking up for animals.

"Animal Rising’s sustained activity is distracting from our focus on the work that really matters - helping thousands of animals every day."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Almost a third of children have refused to go to school, at least one, in the past year.

Education secretary warns of school absence 'epidemic' as a third of children have tried to miss school this year

Prosper admitted killing his mother and two siblings

Teenager who admitted killing his mother and siblings in Luton flat was planning a school shooting, police reveal

Miquita Oliver shar

TV presenter Miquita Oliver reveals first kiss was with infamous ISIS Beatle 'Jihadi George'

Breaking
Roberta Flack On Stage At Park West

'Killing Me Softly' singer and R&B icon Roberta Flack dies aged 88

Arsenal fans celebrate after they score, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Met police officer sacked for 'football hooliganism' after throwing flare at Arsenal match

Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano.

Pictured: 'Sweet, kind and generous' girl, 3, killed in crash involving van and tram as man, 36, arrested

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA gives major update on massive 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth and it's good news

Prosper pleaded guilty to all six charges at Luton Crown Court

Man, 19, admits murdering his mother, sister and brother in Luton flat

Ozempic and Wegovy, injectable prescription weight loss medicines.

Fresh concerns over weight-loss jabs as medication linked to dozens of deaths

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for an investigation into the BBC Gaza documentary.

Kemi Badenoch calls for investigation into BBC Gaza documentary featuring grandson of Hamas founder

Chants of “f*** the feds” could be heard as the boys took control of the emergency vehicle.

GenZ mob run riot for TikTok stunt and swarm police cars during ‘free pop-up’ by streetwear clothing brands

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire,

Boy, 15, arrested after school forced into lockdown after student 'behaving aggressively and threatening staff'

The Runcorn and Helsby MP has been sitting as an independent since he was suspended following his arrest in October

MP Mike Amesbury jailed for 10 weeks for punching man in street in 'unprovoked drunken' assault

Speaking via video link to a Kyiv conference, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Britain is ready to commit British troops on the ground in Ukraine in order to maintain peace.

'Russia doesn't hold all the cards', Starmer says, as he tells Ukraine 'we are with you' three years on from invasion

Leanne Lucas has described for the first time the desperate moments when she helped children run to safety

'If I didn't get out, everyone was going to die': Hero yoga teacher tells how she saved children from Southport attacker

Moise Kean was carried into an ambulance after collapsing during Fiorentina’s game against Verona

Moise Kean update after ex-Everton star rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch