Activists Targeted King Charles's Farm Due to His Environmental Stance, Court Hears

One of the animal rights activists accused of stealing lambs from King Charles's Sandringham Estate told a court that the monarch was specifically targeted because of his public image as an environmentalist and animal lover. Rosa Sharkey, 26, testified that the King's farm was selected because sheep farming is not his primary source of income, and the defendants aimed to provoke a broader discussion about the environmental consequences of animal agriculture.

Giving evidence at Norwich Crown Court, Sharkey stated that she, along with co-defendants Rose Patterson, 37, and Sarah Foy, 26, believed their actions were the "only way that we could have ensured that any sheep were saved." She explained that the group considered the potential impact on farmers but ultimately decided on the King's estate to maximize public discourse. "The King says he is an environmentalist and an animal lover and I do think that the reality of sheep farming is quite hidden away," Sharkey told the jury. She added that the activists felt the realities of sheep farming and slaughterhouses, as well as their land impact, were at odds with the King's stated values.

Sharkey recounted her upbringing in Cumbria, an area with numerous sheep farms, and her growing environmental concerns, exacerbated by Storm Desmond in 2015. She became involved with the activist group Animal Rising in 2022 after they took beagle puppies from a facility. Her environmental activism included participation in rallies and campaigns during her university studies in Brighton, where she earned a degree in international development in 2024.

The court heard that the activists conducted reconnaissance at Appleton Farm on the Sandringham Estate before entering a field around 8 a.m. on May 24, 2023. They spent several hours with the lambs before loading three into a lorry equipped with hay and straw. The lambs were then transported to a sanctuary known to a "trusted friend" of Patterson, the location of which was unknown to the trio. Sharkey explained this secrecy was to prevent the lambs from being returned for slaughter.

Following the incident, the activists traveled to Windsor, where Animal Rising released photos of them holding signs that read "I rescued the King's sheep." Sharkey stated that no action was taken against them at Windsor Castle, and they eventually surrendered to police at Slough police station.

During the trial's first day, the jury was informed that the defendants were concerned about animal welfare and claimed to have found an injured ewe during their initial assessment of the farm. When questioned by prosecutor Dingle Clark, Sharkey confirmed they did not seek out a farm worker regarding the injured ewe, stating her understanding was that injured animals might be killed. "We decided the best option was to not go down that route," she said.

Gordon Robinson, the head stockman at the Sandringham Estate from 2017 to 2024, provided a statement asserting that the farm had undergone three inspections by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in five years and was confirmed to be compliant. He stated, "We unapologetically rear forest-fed lambs to sell for consumption." Lambs are typically raised for slaughter between 16 and 52 weeks of age, while ewes are bred around 18 months old. Robinson also noted that some lambs are kept for breeding rather than slaughter and emphasized that the accused did not have permission to be on the land or take the lambs.

The Sandringham Estate encompasses 2,400 hectares of farmland, with an additional 4,000 hectares rented by tenant farmers. Approximately 3,000 royal sheep reside on the estate.

The trial is ongoing.