King Charles‘ inaugural official portrait, a vibrant red piece by Jonathan Yeo, has been defaced by animal rights activists from Animal Rising. The group, known for their nonviolent protests, targeted the portrait at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, covering the King’s face with an image of Wallace from the popular cartoon series “Wallace and Gromit.” The action was designed to draw attention to a report exposing severe animal cruelty on farms affiliated with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Assured program.
The report, released by Animal Rising, alleged that 45 randomly selected farms under the RSPCA’s Assured scheme were found to be engaging in animal cruelty. The group is calling on King Charles, as the RSPCA’s Royal Patron, to suspend his support for the charity until they abandon the Assured Scheme.
The vandalism occurred during off-hours, ensuring minimal disruption to visitors. The portrait, which was unveiled at Buckingham Palace in May, remains on display at the gallery until June 21. Despite the incident, the gallery has not issued a statement, and the Metropolitan Police are investigating the matter.
Animal Rising’s actions have sparked a heated debate about the role of art, activism, and the monarchy in contemporary society. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing tension between these three entities and the complex issues they represent.
The RSPCA has responded to Animal Rising’s claims, stating that any concerns about welfare on RSPCA Assured certified farms are taken extremely seriously and that they are acting swiftly to look into these allegations. The organization also condemned the vandalism, saying it was “shocked” by the incident and that it cannot condone illegal activity of any kind.
An animal activists group has covered the new King Charles portrait with Wallace from Wallace & Gromit.
“No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms” pic.twitter.com/Z0Yl6hG1CD
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 11, 2024
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The incident has added a new twist to the portrait’s exhibition, keeping the public engaged and intrigued.
