Animal rights group vandalizes King Charles portrait

An animal rights group in Britain has claimed responsibility for vandalizing a newly unveiled official portrait of King Charles in London. The portrait, by artist Jonathan Yeo and displayed at the Philip Mould Gallery, was defaced with the face of Wallace, a character from the British stop-motion franchise Wallace and Gromit. The group, known as Animal Rising, stated that the act was a form of protest against the monarch’s support of the charity RSPCA Assured, which certifies animal welfare standards on farms.

In a video shared by Animal Rising, supporters are seen placing the face of Wallace over King Charles’ face, along with a speech bubble that reads, “No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!” The group has called on King Charles to end his support of RSPCA Assured, citing instances of what they describe as “factory farming and severe animal cruelty” on farms certified by the charity.

A spokesperson for Animal Rising, Daniel Juniper, stated, “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 vandalized portrait, the first of King Charles III completed since his coronation in 2023, depicts the king in a red Welsh Guards uniform against a red background, with only his face and hands left untinted. The painting has garnered mixed reactions, with critics calling it “nightmarish” and “extremely memeable,” while others praise its “slightly edgy” and “modern, dramatic and evocative” style.

King Charles has a history of supporting animal rights groups and recently became the royal patron of RSPCA Assured. His wife, Queen Camilla, also supports various animal welfare charities, including the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and the Wildlife Trusts. The vandalized portrait is set to be displayed at Drapers’ Hall in London starting at the end of August, following its current exhibition at the Philip Mould Gallery.