Protests erupt at Windsor ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit as mass demonstrations planned in London
Small gatherings and arrests near Windsor Castle precede larger marches in central London, with thousands expected and heightened police presence
Protests against U.S. President Donald Trump began near Windsor Castle before he arrived in the United Kingdom, and larger demonstrations are planned across London and other parts of the country during his two-day state visit.
A handful of demonstrators gathered outside Windsor Parish Church as the president and his wife, Melania Trump, were still in the air. On Tuesday evening, images and short video clips were projected onto Windsor Castle showing Trump alongside the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and, separately, Prince Andrew, prompting four arrests. Two men, both 37, were also arrested after flying drones in a temporary exclusion zone close to the castle.
Organisers including the Stop Trump Coalition are preparing a larger march in central London on Wednesday that is expected to involve about 50 groups. Road closures will allow protesters to march on Parliament Square from around 2 p.m., and police said roughly 1,600 officers will be deployed in the capital, especially around Westminster.
Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker of the local police force said officers treated the projection on Windsor Castle as "unauthorised activity" and moved quickly. "We take any unauthorised activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously," she said, adding that police were conducting a "thorough investigation with our partners into the circumstances surrounding this incident" and would provide updates when possible.
A woman who identified herself as Michelle, 32, a marketing executive who declined to give her surname, told Agence France-Presse she was "beyond disappointed" by the decision to host the president. "Donald Trump as a person is... fuelling a lot of the far-right protests that we're already having here," she said. "It's a humongous problem." Her comments came days after an estimated 150,000 people attended a London rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Police said the arrests related to the projection and drone activity were part of an immediate response to potential security breaches around the royal residence. Authorities also warned of road closures and advised the public to expect disruptions in central London during planned marches.
The demonstrations come amid heightened scrutiny of how the United Kingdom will manage protests during a high-profile state visit and ahead of a possible contest over free-speech issues between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump. Organisers of the Stop Trump Coalition have framed the protests as opposition to the president's policies and public statements.
Security preparations have focused on protecting official events tied to the state visit and ensuring public order as groups from across the political spectrum mobilise. Local officials and police have said they will balance the right to protest with protective measures for designated ceremonial locations, and they have urged participants to follow the law and co-operate with officers.
The state visit is due to last two days. Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations are expected to continue while President Trump remains in the U.K., with central London as the main focal point and smaller gatherings elsewhere, authorities said. Police and event organisers said they will monitor developments and adjust security plans as needed.