King Charles
 Britain's King Charles III attends the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, central London on September 12, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Animal rights activists in London defaced King Charles' first official portrait since his coronation in May 2023.

Two supporters from the group Animal Rising took action on Tuesday at the Philip Mould Gallery, where the portrait by Jonathan Yeo was displayed. They attached posters inspired by Wallace and Gromit onto the image, overlaying the king's face with that of Wallace with a speech bubble that read, "No Cheese Gromit. Look At All This Cruelty On RSPCA Farms!"

The protest aimed to raise awareness of a new report by Animal Rising, an organization focused on promoting a sustainable future with positive relationships between humanity, animals, and nature. Published on June 9, the report highlighted instances of "cruelty and suffering" across 45 randomly sampled farms affiliated with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (RSPCA) Assured program.

The RSPCA Assured serves as the organization's non-profit initiative dedicated to farm animal welfare assurance, maintaining elevated standards from birth to slaughter.

King Charles, 75, serves as the royal patron of the RSPCA, continuing a tradition started by his mother Queen Elizabeth.

"The lighthearted action played on the King's love of Wallace and Gromit and his status as Royal Patron of the RSPCA," Animal Rising stated in the announcement. "Animal Rising has called on the King to suspend his support for the charity until they drop the Assured Scheme."

The activists targeted a symbol of significance: King Charles' inaugural portrait since his ceremonial crowning last spring.

First Official Portrait Of King Charles III Since Coronation Unveiled
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III stand in front of the portrait of the King Charles III by artist Jonathan Yeo as it is unveiled in the blue drawing room at Buckingham Palace on May 14, 2024 in London, England. The portrait was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company in 2022. The artwork depicts the King wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975. The canvas size - approximately 8.5 by 6.5 feet when framed - was carefully considered to fit within the architecture of Drapers' Hall and the context of the paintings it will eventually hang alongside. Jonathan Yeo had four sittings with the King, beginning when he was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House. The last sitting took place in November 2023 at Clarence House. Yeo also worked from drawings and photographs he took, allowing him to work on the portrait in his London studio between sittings. (Photo by Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The striking red portrait by Yeo was unveiled at Buckingham Palace on May 14, marking the culmination of a four-year commission.

Initiated in 2020, the artwork was intended to commemorate Charles' 50 years as a member of The Draper's Company, a milestone he reached in 2022.

Tags
King Charles, Protest, Art