Activists Hang Photo of Andrew in Louvre as Arrest Sparks Royal Scandal
In a bold political stunt, the British campaign group Everyone Hates Elon has fixed a photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving police custody onto a wall at the Louvre museum in Paris. The image, taken by Reuters photographer Phil Noble, shows the former prince slouched in the backseat of a Range Rover after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Details of the Louvre Protest
The activists affixed the photo to a gallery wall on Sunday, accompanied by a card reading "He's Sweating Now" with the year 2026 below it. This provocative act targets what the group describes as "billionaires and their politician mates," leveraging high-profile locations to draw attention to issues of wealth and power.
Background of the Arrest and Allegations
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, at the Sandringham estate. He spent 11 hours in custody at Aylsham police station in Norfolk. The allegations centre on claims that he shared confidential government information with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. Emails released by the US Department of Justice in January appear to support these accusations.
Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, but his ties to the disgraced financier led him to step down from royal duties and lose his royal patronages in January 2022. Police searches of his former home on the Windsor estate began on Thursday and are expected to conclude on Monday.
Previous Campaigns by Everyone Hates Elon
This is not the first provocative action by Everyone Hates Elon. The group has previously displayed posters in London featuring Manchester United footballers, with messages critiquing billionaire tax practices in response to comments by club shareholder Jim Ratcliffe. Additionally, they unveiled a large sign in Venice's St Mark's Square during Jeff Bezos's wedding, advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy.
Political and Royal Repercussions
The incident has intensified calls for Mountbatten-Windsor, who remains eighth in line to the throne, to be removed from the line of succession. On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, speaking on behalf of the government, did not rule out a judge-led inquiry into Andrew's connections with Epstein, highlighting the ongoing political scrutiny.
As the scandal unfolds, the Louvre protest underscores the growing public and activist engagement with issues of accountability among high-profile figures, blending art, politics, and royal affairs into a contentious narrative.
