Topline
A British animal rights group has said it is responsible for vandalizing a recently unveiled official portrait of King Charles hanging in London, which on Tuesday saw the face of animated character Wallace plastered over Charles.
Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III stand in front of the portrait as it is unveiled at ... [+]
Key Facts
The Animal Rising organization on Tuesday afternoon said it had “redecorated” the portrait of Charles by Jonathan Yeo in the Philip Mould Gallery, which was unveiled last month and drew mixed reactions for its dramatic, monochromatic depiction of the king.
Animal Rising shared a video of its supporters putting the face of Wallace, one of two main characters in the British stop-motion franchise Wallace and Gromit, over the face of the king and adding the special bubble, “No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!”
The group has called on the monarchy to end its support of the charity RSPCA Assured, which visits farms in the United Kingdom and puts labels on the fish, meat and dairy products that meet its animal welfare standards.
Animal Rising recently put out a report that says its members visited 45 different farms that had won the RSPCA Assured stamp of approval and found “factory farming and severe animal cruelty on every single one.”
Representatives for RSPCA Assured did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment Tuesday.
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Crucial Quote
"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,” protestor Daniel Juniper said in a statement.
Tangent
The portrait that was vandalized Tuesday was the first portrait of King Charles III to be completed since he was coronated in 2023. The painting was unveiled last month and immediately hit with criticism for its unique imagery. The portrait depicts Charles in a red Welsh Guards uniform against a red background, and the only parts of the portrait that aren't tinted red are his face and hands. Critics of the painting called it “nightmarish” and “extremely memeable.” Fans said it was “slightly edgy” and “modern, dramatic and evocative.” The portrait is over 8 feet tall and is set to be displayed in its current London gallery through Friday. It will be re-displayed at Drapers’ Hall in London starting at the end of August.
Key Background
King Charles has long personally supported animal rights groups and last month became the royal patron of the RSPCA Assured charity. Queen Victoria was the group's first-ever royal patron and the late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles' mother, also held the title for 70 years. The title doesn’t come with any particular responsibilities or monetary reassurance, but royal patrons do elevate the standing of the organizations they serve and raise awareness of their causes. Other patronages of the king include the Dogs Trust and the Wildlife Trusts. Queen Camilla, Charles’ wife, also has a history of supporting animal welfare groups, particularly those serving horses, donkeys, dogs, elephants and bees. She is the patron of the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Medical Detection Dogs, Animal Care Trust and the Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare. She is also president of the Bees for Development charity.
