The British political campaign group Everyone Hates Elon executed a bold and provocative stunt on Sunday, fixing a photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving police custody onto a wall inside the prestigious Louvre gallery in Paris. The image, captured 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 Incident
The activists affixed the photo to a wall in the Paris museum, accompanied by a card that reads "He's Sweating Now" with the year 2026 below it. This act is part of a series of attention-grabbing maneuvers by the group, which explicitly targets "billionaires and their politician mates" through public displays designed to spark controversy and debate.
Background of Andrew's Arrest
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, which coincided with his 66th birthday, at the Sandringham estate. He subsequently spent 11 hours in custody at Aylsham police station in Norfolk. The allegations against him involve sharing confidential government information with the 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 show him transmitting reports of official visits, adding fuel to the ongoing scandal. Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, but his association with the disgraced financier led to his stepping down from royal duties and the removal of his royal patronages in January 2022.
Previous Campaigns by Everyone Hates Elon
This is not the first time Everyone Hates Elon has engaged in such provocative actions. The group previously displayed posters in London featuring Manchester United footballers, with text stating "immigration has done more for this city than billionaire tax dodgers ever have." This was a direct response to comments by Jim Ratcliffe, the club's largest single shareholder, about the UK being "colonised" by immigrants.
Additionally, during Jeff Bezos's wedding in Venice, activists unveiled a large sign in St Mark's Square that read, "if you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax." These stunts highlight the group's focus on wealth inequality and political accountability.
Ongoing Investigations and Political Reactions
Police searches of Mountbatten-Windsor's former home on the Windsor estate in Berkshire began on Thursday and were expected to conclude on Monday. Meanwhile, there have been increasing calls for him to be removed from the line of succession, where he currently remains eighth in line to the throne.
On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, speaking on behalf of the government, did not rule out the possibility of a judge-led inquiry into Andrew's connections with Epstein. This indicates that the political ramifications of the case are far from over, with potential for further scrutiny and legal proceedings.
The Louvre stunt by Everyone Hates Elon serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing public and political interest in the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor case, blending art, activism, and controversy in a high-profile setting.
