Gardener Removes Virginia Giuffre Memorial Plaque Outside Buckingham Palace
A worker in high-visibility clothing, identified as a gardener, was captured on video removing a memorial plaque dedicated to Virginia Giuffre from a grassy area in a park near Buckingham Palace. The incident occurred on March 4, 2026, as tourists flooded the site, taking selfies with the royal residence in the background. The plaque was installed by activists from the group Everybody Hates Elon, who aimed to highlight Giuffre's role in exposing sexual abuse by powerful figures.
Activist Group's Statement on the Memorial
The memorial signs, placed on royal land, read: 'In honour of Virginia Giuffre whose decades of campaigning exposed sexual abuse by powerful men like Jeffrey Epstein and former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Her bravery and determination brought the truth to light. May she be remembered long after her abusers are forgotten.' A spokesperson for Everybody Hates Elon expressed hope that the plaque could become a permanent tribute to survivors. 'Billionaires and their mates think they can get away with anything. They think ordinary people will never fight back – let alone win,' the spokesperson said. 'Yet Virginia Giuffre never stopped standing up to Epstein and Andrew. It's thanks to her and survivors like her that they are being made to pay for their crimes, even a little.'
Background on Virginia Giuffre and the Epstein Scandal
Virginia Giuffre became a central figure in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal after alleging that Epstein trafficked her to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was underage. An infamous image of Giuffre standing beside then-Prince Andrew has emerged from the Epstein files. Andrew has consistently denied ever meeting Giuffre and any wrongdoing, even suggesting the photo is a fake. After a long battle with depression and trauma, Giuffre was found dead in her Australian home on April 25, 2025. Her family described her as a 'fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse,' noting that the 'toll of abuse... became unbearable.'
Recent Activism by Everybody Hates Elon
This action follows a previous prank by the group, where they hung a portrait of Prince Andrew's unflattering arrest picture at the Louvre in Paris. The activists managed to bypass enhanced security at the world-famous gallery, displaying the image near masterpieces like the Mona Lisa for about 15 minutes before removal. A mastermind of the operation explained: 'It was all pretty fine getting it through. It was just in a bag and hidden under another picture. We put it up but didn't hang about. We had to get out of there.' The group has also targeted other billionaires, such as shaming Jeff Bezos at his Venice wedding, as part of their campaign against perceived injustices by the wealthy and powerful.
Reactions and Legacy of Virginia Giuffre
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Giuffre, stated: 'Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring. The world has lost an amazing human being today.' Dini von Mueffling, Giuffre's long-time publicist, added: 'Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.' The removal of the plaque underscores ongoing tensions between activist efforts to memorialize survivors and institutional responses, with the gardener's actions symbolizing a swift cleanup of the protest on royal grounds.
