Four men bailed over Windsor protest during Trump visit

Four men arrested in connection with a protest at Windsor Castle during Donald Trump’s state visit have been bailed, police said on Friday. They were released on conditional bail until December 12 while inquiries continue, after being held on suspicion of offences including malicious communications and public nuisance related to the projection of the U.S. president and the late convicted sex offender at the historic royal residence.

Thames Valley Police said the four suspects are a 60-year-old man from East Sussex, a 36-year-old man from London, a 50-year-old man from London, and a 37-year-old man from Kent. The arrests followed footage that appeared to show images of Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein projected onto an exterior wall of Windsor Castle on the day Trump met King Charles and other senior royals at the start of the visit’s program. Windsor has been the center of the week’s public spectacle, with much of the formal state visit conducted behind the fortress-like walls of the castle.

The same episode included quotes and headlines about Trump’s relationship with Epstein, which drew broader attention amid the high-profile visit. In Windsor, a van was also seen displaying an image of Trump and Epstein accompanied by the message: "Welcome to the UK, Donald." The imagery complemented a day full of ceremonial duties and private meetings, underscoring the contrasting tensions that accompanied the state visit.

Epstein, a financier who died in custody in 2019, is described in the notes as a disgraced financier with whom Trump had known associations. Trump has said he did not know Epstein well and has not been officially accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s alleged crimes. The presence of Epstein imagery during the visit has amplified questions about Trump’s longstanding associations, even as the official itinerary proceeded largely behind Windsor Castle’s walls.

The state visit — described in some accounts as the second such visit to the United Kingdom during the current administration — has drawn protests in London and to a lesser extent in Windsor. Demonstrators have argued against policies associated with Trump and his administration, while officials have stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement and the alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. In Windsor, security and the ceremonial program remained tight, with the visit largely contained within the castle grounds on what was a highly choreographed day.

In broader context, Trump’s schedule on the day included meetings with King Charles and other senior royals, followed by a briefing and a private discussion with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and members of the government at Chequers, the prime minister’s grace-and-favour country home. The plan to meet at Chequers on Thursday reflects the broader effort to balance public spectacle with private diplomatic talks, a dynamic that has characterized the state visit since it began.

The controversy surrounding Epstein’s connection to Trump and other figures has persisted for years, and the latest manifestation at Windsor amplified questions about how public officials navigate past associations in the realm of international diplomacy. Epstein died in 2019 while facing a broad range of allegations that have continued to reverberate through political discourse. Trump has said he had limited contact with Epstein and has not been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s activities, though these statements have not cooled the public debate about the relationship.

The police statement about the Windsor arrests emphasizes that the investigation remains ongoing and that officers will pursue all appropriate leads. They have not provided additional information about potential charges beyond the bail conditions or any potential future court appearances. The four individuals remain subject to the terms of their conditional bail, and authorities said they would release further updates as the inquiry progresses.

Elsewhere, the day’s events underscored the delicate balancing act of highly orchestrated state visits: the need to project strength and unity on the international stage while acknowledging the domestic sensitivities that accompany controversial figures and their networks. As the visit continues, observers will watch for further security measures, public demonstrations, and any subsequent legal developments tied to those who participated in or organized the Windsor projection incident.

The Windsor episode has also intersected with domestic political shifts. Notably, the week leading up to the visit saw Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s administration facing scrutiny over other diplomatic personnel, with reports of changes within the U.K. diplomatic footprint in the United States. The combination of high-profile diplomacy, domestic political developments, and the provocative symbolism of the Windsor projections has created a complex backdrop for the remainder of Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

As the investigation unfolds, law enforcement officials have stressed that the actions taken were part of a broader effort to maintain public safety and order during a major international engagement. They have not indicated whether additional arrests or charges could follow, but they affirmed their commitment to transparency as the inquiry progresses. For now, Windsor remains a stage for a historic visit, marked by ceremonial pomp, private diplomacy, and the persistent undercurrents of controversy that accompany global leaders in the modern media age.