Protests against Donald Trump‘s State visit began before he had even arrived in the UK yesterday, while further action is planned for the rest of his stay.
Thousands are set to descend on central London on Wednesday, with other demonstrations gearing up around the UK in opposition to the US President’s two-day stay.
About 1,600 police officers will be in the capital, around Westminster, amid a march involving 50 groups organised by the Stop Trump Coalition.
Ahead of a potential clash between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump over free speech in the UK, the first flickers of discontent were felt near Windsor Castle last night, where Mr Trump and his wife Melania are staying.
As the couple were still in the air, a handful of protesters assembled outside Windsor Parish Church, chanting slogans including ‘Dump Trump’.
‘I am beyond disappointed,’ Michelle, 32, a marketing executive who declined to give her surname, told AFP of Britain rolling out the red carpet.
‘Donald Trump as a person is… fuelling a lot of the far-right protests that we’re already having here.
‘It’s a humongous problem,’ she said, days after an estimated 150,000 attended a London rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Protesters gather for a demonstration ahead of the arrival of President Donald Trump in Windsor
Protesters hold anti-Trump posters as they gather in Windsor on Tuesday
Hundreds of protesters gather on Windsor High Street near the castle to oppose US President Donald Trump’s arrival in the UK
In London, road closures will allow protesters to march on Parliament Square from around 2pm today.
Two 37-year-old men were arrested yesterday for flying drones in a temporary exclusion area near Windsor Castle.
Four people were also arrested after images of Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew and Donald Trump were projected on to Windsor Castle.
On Tuesday evening, a video of several images and clips of the disgraced financier and the US President, 79, together over the years were projected onto the famed castle.
The series of images were accompanied by a timeline, showing several pictures of the two as well as a note written by Mr Trump to Epstein in a copy of his book ‘Trump the Art of The Comeback’ which read: ‘To Jeff, you are the greatest.’
Images of Prince Andrew alongside Epstein, who was on trial for several sex trafficking charges, were also shone on the screen for passers by in the Berkshire town to see.
A dog is seen among the demonstrators against Trump’s arrival in Windsor on Tuesday
American flags and Union Jacks are seen on Windsor High Street ahead of the President’s visit
Protesters take part in a demonstration organised by the Stop Trump Coalition outside Windsor Castle
Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker said: ‘We take any unauthorised activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously.
‘Our officers responded swiftly to stop the projection and four people have been arrested.
‘We are conducting a thorough investigation with our partners into the circumstances surrounding this incident and will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so.’
