Activists Hang Prince Andrew's Arrest Photo in Louvre Museum as Protest
In a bold and provocative act, activists have placed an unflattering image of Prince Andrew, also known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris. The photo, which shows the disgraced former prince looking wild-eyed after his release from police custody, was mounted in a small frame and hung alongside iconic artworks like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Protest Details and Symbolism
The activist group Everyone Hates Elon was responsible for the installation, sharing a video on Instagram with the caption: 'They say "hang it in the Louvre". So we did.' The frame included the caption 'He's sweating now,' a pointed reference to Prince Andrew's infamous Newsnight interview, where he claimed he couldn't sweat, contradicting accuser Virginia Giuffre's account of seeing him perspire at a nightclub.
Visitors to the museum gathered around the photo, laughing at the image of Andrew slumped in the back seat of a Range Rover after leaving a Norfolk police station following 11 hours in custody. The group told Reuters, 'We thought we'd show the former Prince Andrew how the world will remember him by putting up this iconic arrest photo at the Louvre.' They added, 'Let's hope this is just the start. Justice for all Epstein survivors.'
Swift Removal and Ongoing Investigation
Security personnel at the Louvre removed the photo just 15 minutes after it was installed. This protest comes amid an ongoing investigation into Prince Andrew, who was released on his 66th birthday but remains under scrutiny for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy.
Detectives have continued searching Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, over the weekend. Meanwhile, Andrew has reportedly been holed up in a cottage on the King's Sandringham estate. A Norfolk source close to the family revealed that before his arrest, Andrew did 'nothing but complain since he got here' and is 'in another world.'
Family Reactions and Royal Implications
The whereabouts of Andrew's immediate family, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and his former wife Sarah 'Fergie' Ferguson, are currently unknown. Friends of Ferguson told the Mail that she is 'very, very down' and 'feels deeply depressed and that the world is out to get her.' However, they noted she shows no remorse and 'just wants this to all go away and allow her to get on with her life. Her head is in the sand.'
Despite being stripped of his royal titles last year, Prince Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him from the line of succession would require an Act of Parliament, which Sir Keir Starmer's Government is considering once police conclude their investigation. Any such changes would also need agreement from other countries that share the UK monarch, such as Australia, Canada, and Jamaica.
Broader Context and Public Response
This incident highlights the ongoing public and activist backlash against Prince Andrew in the wake of the Epstein scandal. The Louvre protest serves as a symbolic gesture, aiming to immortalize his arrest image in a setting reserved for historical and cultural significance. It underscores the global attention and criticism surrounding the royal family's handling of the case.
As the investigation continues, the world watches closely, with activists vowing to keep pressure on for accountability and justice for Epstein's survivors. The quick removal of the photo from the Louvre may have ended the immediate protest, but it has sparked further discussion and media coverage, keeping the issue in the public eye.
