King Charles III portrait vandalized with 'Wallace and Gromit' image by animal rights activists
The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation was defaced with an image from "Wallace and Gromit" by animal rights activists at a public gallery in London on Tuesday.
LONDON — The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation was defaced by animal rights activists at a public gallery in London on Tuesday, according to pictures released by a protest group.
The Animal Rising group released video showing two of its supporters quickly approaching the painting and placing the head of Wallace, a character from the "Wallace and Gromit" animated franchise, onto the head of the monarch, to gasps of shock from onlookers.
A message placed on the painting said: "No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!" The message referred to both Wallace's love of cheese and the alleged animal cruelty at a number of farms certified by the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, a British charity.
The painting, by British artist Jonathan Yeo, pictures Charles in his red Welsh Guards ceremonial military uniform, with a butterfly on his shoulder, against a deep red background.
It was due to be on free public display at the Philip Mould gallery until June 21, with no booking required to see it — but Tuesday’s incident will bring the immediate future of the artwork into question.
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