Animal rights activists in the UK, on Tuesday (June 12), defaced the portrait of British King Charles III. This was his first official portrait since he ascended to the throne.&nbsp;

The activists covered his face with an image of the animated character 'Wallace' from the "Wallace and Gromit" series, along with a speech bubble that read: "No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!".

<h2>Who is behind the act?</h2>

Campaign group Animal Rising has taken responsibility&nbsp;for this act which was aimed at protesting animal welfare standards on farms certified by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), an animal charity of which Charles is a patron.

Footage released by Animal Rising show two supporters entering London's Philip Mould gallery and covering the king's face on the portrait with the cartoon image and adding the speech bubble.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amsterdam-to-remove-chinese-made-cameras-over-espionage-and-human-rights-concerns-731014">Amsterdam to remove Chinese-made cameras over espionage and human rights concerns</a>

The activists intended to draw attention to what they perceive as cruelty on RSPCA "Assured" farms, which are supposed to adhere to higher welfare standards.

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‼️BREAKING: No Cheese Gromit! King Charles Portrait Redecorated‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalFamily</a> 
 
‼️Find out why King Charles, Patron of the RSPCA should ask them to drop the Assured Scheme -&gt; <a href="https://t.co/pTneW0QCWf">https://t.co/pTneW0QCWf</a> 👈 <a href="https://t.co/jYLHFuxtHB">pic.twitter.com/jYLHFuxtHB</a>
— Animal Rising (@AnimalRising) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnimalRising/status/1800498356441198721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Daniel Juniper, one of the activists involved in the portrait protest, expressed his rationale in a statement on the group's website. He said, "With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn't think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms."&nbsp;

He urged the king to "seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA."

<h2>What did the RSPCA say about this?</h2>

The RSPCA has responded with disapproval of the act.&nbsp;In a statement, the animal welfare organisation said that they are "shocked by this vandalism of His Majesty King, our Patron's, portrait."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-faces-backlash-over-ps17-billon-tax-giveaway-731030">Rishi Sunak faces backlash over £17 billon tax giveaway</a>

A spokesperson for the organisation said that while they&nbsp;"welcome&nbsp;scrutiny",&nbsp;they "cannot condone illegal activity of any kind."

The charity emphasised that it takes allegations regarding its certified farms seriously.

<h2>A pattern emerges: Art vs Activism</h2>

This latest incident is part of a series of similar incidents&nbsp;of activists targeting artwork in Britain. Recent acts include climate protesters attempting to damage the Magna Carta in the British Library and throwing soup on Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery.

Buckingham Palace, as per Reuters, has declined to comment on the incident.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Animal Rising has assured that their posters could be removed without damaging the portrait.

(With inputs from agencies)

Animal rights activists in the UK, on Tuesday (June 12), defaced the portrait of British King Charles III. This was his first official portrait since he ascended to the throne.

Animal rights activists in the UK, on Tuesday (June 12), defaced the portrait of British King Charles III. This was his first official portrait since he ascended to the throne. The activists covered his face with an image of the animated character 'Wallace' from the "Wallace and Gromit" series, along with a speech bubble that read: "No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!". Who is behind the act? Campaign group Animal Rising has taken responsibility for this act which was aimed at protesting animal welfare standards on farms certified by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), an animal charity of which Charles is a patron. Footage released by Animal Rising show two supporters entering London's Philip Mould gallery and covering the king's face on the portrait with the cartoon image and adding the speech bubble. Also read | Amsterdam to remove Chinese-made cameras over espionage and human rights concerns The activists intended to draw attention to what they perceive as cruelty on RSPCA "Assured" farms, which are supposed to adhere to higher welfare standards. ‼️BREAKING: No Cheese Gromit! King Charles Portrait Redecorated‼️ @RoyalFamily ‼️Find out why King Charles, Patron of the RSPCA should ask them to drop the Assured Scheme -> https://t.co/pTneW0QCWf 👈 pic.twitter.com/jYLHFuxtHB — Animal Rising (@AnimalRising) June 11, 2024 × Daniel Juniper, one of the activists involved in the portrait protest, expressed his rationale in a statement on the group's website. He said, "With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn't think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms." He urged the king to "seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA." What did the RSPCA say about this? The RSPCA has responded with disapproval of the act. In a statement, the animal welfare organisation said that they are "shocked by this vandalism of His Majesty King, our Patron's, portrait." Also read | Rishi Sunak faces backlash over £17 billon tax giveaway A spokesperson for the organisation said that while they "welcome scrutiny", they "cannot condone illegal activity of any kind." The charity emphasised that it takes allegations regarding its certified farms seriously. A pattern emerges: Art vs Activism This latest incident is part of a series of similar incidents of activists targeting artwork in Britain. Recent acts include climate protesters attempting to damage the Magna Carta in the British Library and throwing soup on Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery. Buckingham Palace, as per Reuters, has declined to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, Animal Rising has assured that their posters could be removed without damaging the portrait. (With inputs from agencies)

'No cheese, Gromit': Animal activists vandalise King Charles III's first official portrait. Watch!

In less than 24 hours, King Charles III will officially take over as the British king. On May 6&nbsp;(Saturday), the United Kingdom will crown the King. Even as dozens of royal fans have started camping out in Central London ahead of King Charles III's coronation, not everyone is excited about the upcoming event. Multiple polls conducted recently have found that the excitement levels are subpar at best.

For some Britons, Saturday's event is a "once in a lifetime" event, for others it is a welcome occasion for the day off from work it comes with. However, for many, the huge event and the royal family are akin to a vampire sucking the blood of its victim.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-king-charles-coronation-jamaica-belize-eye-ditching-britains-monarchy-589211">King Charles' coronation: Jamaica, Belize eye ditching Britain's monarchy</a>

Talking to Reuters, Philip Nash, a street sweeper in Whitechapel, a more run-down area of east London, said, "They (the royals) just take everything from me. They never do a day's work."

"I'd like to see one of them come out here, come sweep this street. Have you known any of them to do a day's work? They are like vampires, sucking my blood," he added.&nbsp;

His sentiments are shared by many Britons who believe that a spectacular ceremony for the royals seemed inappropriate when many are dealing with high inflation that has topped 10 per cent and has sent the cost of energy and food soaring.

Watch |&nbsp;King Charles III Coronation: London to witness coronation ceremony after 70 years

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A YouGov poll published on May 4&nbsp;found that only about one-third or 35 per cent of those asked about the coronation cared about it. A whopping 62 per cent were&nbsp;divided between caring 'not at all' and 'not very much'.

Another YouGov poll conducted last month found that around 48 per cent of those surveyed were not likely to participate in the coronation or even watch it on TV.

Yet another poll found that King Charles III's approval ratings have taken a dip. The poll by Ipsos released in April found that the British King's approval rating fell from 61 per cent in September 2022, to 49 per cent in April 2023.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-charles-defender-of-faith-to-include-peers-from-jew-hindu-muslim-sikh-faiths-in-his-coronation-585053">King Charles 'defender of faith' to include peers from Jew, Hindu, Muslim &amp; Sikh faiths in his coronation</a>

Compared to him, Kate, the Princess of Wales — who came out on top, her husband and heir to the throne, Prince William, "any of the king's grandchildren", and Charles's sister Princess Anne emerged as the public's favourite royals.

A Mirror UK poll found that the support for monarchy as an institution has also declined from 62 per cent to 58 per cent.&nbsp;

Another survey from the National Centre for Social Research found that while 55 per cent of the British public consider the monarchy to be important, those who say that its retention is “very important” stood at just 29 per cent, the lowest proportion on record.

The origins of the coronation on Sunday date back around 1,000 years and it is slated to be the biggest ceremonial event since the one staged for King Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The event as per Reuters, will include a display of pageantry and a huge military procession.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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In less than 24 hours, King Charles III will officially take over as the British king. On May 6 (Saturday), the United Kingdom will crown the King. Even as dozens of royal fans have started camping out in Central London ahead of King Charles III's coronation, not everyone is excited about the upcoming event.

In less than 24 hours, King Charles III will officially take over as the British king. On May 6 (Saturday), the United Kingdom will crown the King. Even as dozens of royal fans have started camping out in Central London ahead of King Charles III's coronation, not everyone is excited about the upcoming event. Multiple polls conducted recently have found that the excitement levels are subpar at best. For some Britons, Saturday's event is a "once in a lifetime" event, for others it is a welcome occasion for the day off from work it comes with. However, for many, the huge event and the royal family are akin to a vampire sucking the blood of its victim. Also read | King Charles' coronation: Jamaica, Belize eye ditching Britain's monarchy Talking to Reuters, Philip Nash, a street sweeper in Whitechapel, a more run-down area of east London, said, "They (the royals) just take everything from me. They never do a day's work." "I'd like to see one of them come out here, come sweep this street. Have you known any of them to do a day's work? They are like vampires, sucking my blood," he added. His sentiments are shared by many Britons who believe that a spectacular ceremony for the royals seemed inappropriate when many are dealing with high inflation that has topped 10 per cent and has sent the cost of energy and food soaring. Watch | King Charles III Coronation: London to witness coronation ceremony after 70 years A YouGov poll published on May 4 found that only about one-third or 35 per cent of those asked about the coronation cared about it. A whopping 62 per cent were divided between caring 'not at all' and 'not very much'. Another YouGov poll conducted last month found that around 48 per cent of those surveyed were not likely to participate in the coronation or even watch it on TV. Yet another poll found that King Charles III's approval ratings have taken a dip. The poll by Ipsos released in April found that the British King's approval rating fell from 61 per cent in September 2022, to 49 per cent in April 2023. Also read | King Charles 'defender of faith' to include peers from Jew, Hindu, Muslim & Sikh faiths in his coronation Compared to him, Kate, the Princess of Wales — who came out on top, her husband and heir to the throne, Prince William, "any of the king's grandchildren", and Charles's sister Princess Anne emerged as the public's favourite royals. A Mirror UK poll found that the support for monarchy as an institution has also declined from 62 per cent to 58 per cent. Another survey from the National Centre for Social Research found that while 55 per cent of the British public consider the monarchy to be important, those who say that its retention is “very important” stood at just 29 per cent, the lowest proportion on record. The origins of the coronation on Sunday date back around 1,000 years and it is slated to be the biggest ceremonial event since the one staged for King Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The event as per Reuters, will include a display of pageantry and a huge military procession. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Vampires, sucking my blood’: Support for King Charles III and monarchy plummets. Here’s what polls show

Almost three decades since the-then prince Charles' proclamation that he is more of a "defender of&nbsp;faith" than "the faith," Britain's King as per a Times report is all set to incorporate other religions into his coronation ceremony.&nbsp;As per the report, "Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish peers will present the King with four key pieces of coronation regalia during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey."

This is the first involvement of non-Christian figures in the crowning of a British monarch. Four members of the House of Lords will be part of the main ceremony; members of the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish communities, will represent their faiths.

As per the reports, while these clerics will most probably not be given the chance to speak or even read out blessings, they will form a "faith procession."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-king-charles-breaks-coronation-tradition-monarch-to-be-anointed-with-animal-cruelty-free-oil-568462">King Charles breaks coronation tradition: Monarch to be anointed with animal cruelty-free oil</a>

This move is also significant because it highlights the important role of the House of Lords in official royal events.&nbsp;

As per Times, the inclusion of representatives from different faiths in the coronation ceremony reflects the changing demographics of the United Kingdom, which has become increasingly diverse in recent years. It also acknowledges the important role that religion plays in the lives of many British citizens.

However, as per a Daily Mail report, Church leaders are resisting the role of other faith leaders in King Charles' coronation ceremony. The ceremony is traditionally an Anglican ceremony and is also a constitutional event. As per the publication, a compromise might be required. This could mean that the King holds a separate ceremony in which other faith leaders would play an active role.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/10-things-named-after-king-charles-iii-517260">10 things named after King Charles III</a>

According to the Bill of Rights Act 1688, which was modified by the Accession Declaration Act of 1910, the Monarch, who serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, must declare during his Coronation or at the first State Opening of Parliament that he is a loyal Protestant and will guarantee the Protestant succession. Furthermore, under the Coronation Oath Act of 1688, the monarch, in this case, the king is obligated to declare that he will uphold the established Anglican Protestant Church. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Almost three decades since the-then prince Charles' proclamation that he is more of a "defender of faith" than "the faith," Britain's King as per a Times report is all set to incorporate other religions into his coronation ceremony.

Almost three decades since the-then prince Charles' proclamation that he is more of a "defender of faith" than "the faith," Britain's King as per a Times report is all set to incorporate other religions into his coronation ceremony. As per the report, "Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish peers will present the King with four key pieces of coronation regalia during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey." This is the first involvement of non-Christian figures in the crowning of a British monarch. Four members of the House of Lords will be part of the main ceremony; members of the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish communities, will represent their faiths. As per the reports, while these clerics will most probably not be given the chance to speak or even read out blessings, they will form a "faith procession." Also read | King Charles breaks coronation tradition: Monarch to be anointed with animal cruelty-free oil This move is also significant because it highlights the important role of the House of Lords in official royal events. As per Times, the inclusion of representatives from different faiths in the coronation ceremony reflects the changing demographics of the United Kingdom, which has become increasingly diverse in recent years. It also acknowledges the important role that religion plays in the lives of many British citizens. However, as per a Daily Mail report, Church leaders are resisting the role of other faith leaders in King Charles' coronation ceremony. The ceremony is traditionally an Anglican ceremony and is also a constitutional event. As per the publication, a compromise might be required. This could mean that the King holds a separate ceremony in which other faith leaders would play an active role. Also read | 10 things named after King Charles III According to the Bill of Rights Act 1688, which was modified by the Accession Declaration Act of 1910, the Monarch, who serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, must declare during his Coronation or at the first State Opening of Parliament that he is a loyal Protestant and will guarantee the Protestant succession. Furthermore, under the Coronation Oath Act of 1688, the monarch, in this case, the king is obligated to declare that he will uphold the established Anglican Protestant Church. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

King Charles 'defender of faith' to include peers from Jew, Hindu, Muslim & Sikh faiths in his coronation

The first portrait of King Charles III has been released. The portrait is painted in oil by artist Alastair Barford, who was given two weeks for the task. With the artwork, he aimed to capture the King's "warmth and sensitivity." He said that it was a "terrifying honour. It’s a great responsibility to create a portrait of someone who means so much to so many people. If you are painting someone you know, you bring to the portrait certain preconceptions. While I don’t know The King, he has been an enduring presence in all our lives. So reconciling this ‘Idea of The King' with the reference material I had gathered was a challenge.”

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The portrait shows Charles in a blue suit and wearing a special bracelet on his left wrist that was gifted to him by an Amazonian indigenous leader called Domingo Peas. It will be featured in Illustrated London News magazine's special Coronation edition, which will go on sale on March 30 in Britain. Illustrated London News has a long history of commissioning royal portraits for special occasions.

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&nbsp;

Portraits of British monarchs have been an important tradition in British culture for centuries. They are often used to convey the image and character of the monarch. They can reflect the individual style and personality of the monarch, as well as convey a sense of their authority and power.&nbsp;

King Charles III became the king of the United Kingdom after his mother Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 last year at the age of 96. There had been concerns about her health for a few days. Born on April 21, 1926 in Mayfair, London, she breathed her last as the longest-serving British monarch with 70 years of reign, beating Queen Victoria's reign of 63 years.&nbsp;

King Charles III will be officially crowned at the coronation on May 6 this year. 
 
 
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The first portrait of King Charles III has been released. The portrait is painted in oil by artist Alastair Barford, who was given two weeks for the task. With the artwork, he aimed to capture the King's "warmth and sensitivity.

The first portrait of King Charles III has been released. The portrait is painted in oil by artist Alastair Barford, who was given two weeks for the task. With the artwork, he aimed to capture the King's "warmth and sensitivity." He said that it was a "terrifying honour. It’s a great responsibility to create a portrait of someone who means so much to so many people. If you are painting someone you know, you bring to the portrait certain preconceptions. While I don’t know The King, he has been an enduring presence in all our lives. So reconciling this ‘Idea of The King' with the reference material I had gathered was a challenge.” The portrait shows Charles in a blue suit and wearing a special bracelet on his left wrist that was gifted to him by an Amazonian indigenous leader called Domingo Peas. It will be featured in Illustrated London News magazine's special Coronation edition, which will go on sale on March 30 in Britain. Illustrated London News has a long history of commissioning royal portraits for special occasions. The first portrait of King Charles III since the start of his reign has been unveiled https://t.co/Jznny65Ba7 pic.twitter.com/BzhY0yON1N — Tatler (@Tatlermagazine) March 29, 2023 × Portraits of British monarchs have been an important tradition in British culture for centuries. They are often used to convey the image and character of the monarch. They can reflect the individual style and personality of the monarch, as well as convey a sense of their authority and power. King Charles III became the king of the United Kingdom after his mother Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 last year at the age of 96. There had been concerns about her health for a few days. Born on April 21, 1926 in Mayfair, London, she breathed her last as the longest-serving British monarch with 70 years of reign, beating Queen Victoria's reign of 63 years. King Charles III will be officially crowned at the coronation on May 6 this year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

King Charles III sports a special piece of jewellery in first official portrait. See photo