Extinction Rebellion activists arrange camp outdoors the royal grounds
Extinction Rebellion activists have set up camp outside Windsor Castle as they plot ‘three days of chaos’.
A tent city has sprung up in Windsor Great Park this morning as part of the group’s ‘upgrade democracy’ occupation.
Windsor Castle is a major royal residence where the Princess of Wales has spent some time recovering from cancer.
MailOnline exclusively revealed that the XR activists planned to create a diversion on The Long Walk so other members could break into the castle grounds.
At 9am this morning, Police were seen patrolling landmarks around the Berkshire town including a bronze statue of Queen Victoria in order to prepare before and after pictures in case protesters deface monuments.
A person sets up a tent in Windsor Great Park, as Extinction Rebellion stage an ‘upgrade democracy’ mass occupatio
Police at Home Park in Windsor, Berkshire early this morning where a protest camp is being set up by Extinction Rebellion
Demonstrators set up a banner in Windsor Great Park. They are calling for the Government to create and be led by a citizens’ assembly
Demonstrators set up a banner reading ‘funfair’ in Windsor Great Park, as Extinction Rebellion stage an ‘upgrade democracy’ mass occupation
The Princess of Wales often spends time at Windsor Castle as she continues her recovery from cancer. Pictured: Princess Catherine at the Windsor Foodshare in January 2023
Extra security has been stepped up around the royal residence including a ring of steel, extra barriers and a police officer stationed every 50ft along the Long Walk.
A sign on the gates of the castle reads: ‘We understand that Extinction Rebellion intend to hold a protest in Windsor from Friday August 30 to Sunday September 1.
‘While we have not given consent to this protest, parts of the protest may be located on The Long Walk.
‘It is possible that large crowds may attend the protest which could be disruptive to other visitors.
‘Please be vigilant and consider avoiding The Long Walk area during these times.’
The eco-activists also plan to cause mayhem in Windsor town centre by targeting hotels and restaurants as well as shutting down roads as part of the planned three-day mass demonstration, we reported exclusively.
An investigator posing as a potential activist listened in to a zoom meeting involving over a dozen others where they discussed the non-violent action they had planned.
Solar panels are pictured in the protest camp set up by Extinction Rebellion for a three day demonstration
Police officers walk beneath a banner reading ‘upgrade democracy’, among tents in Windsor Great Park
The eco-activists also plan to cause mayhem in Windsor town centre by targeting hotels and restaurants as well as shutting down roads, MailOnline reported
The group hope the publicity from storming the castle will help boost their profile and enhance their demands for a Citizens Assembly to be established to tackle the climate crisis.
A risk assessment into the demo from August 30th to September 1st was ordered from the ASG Group by a local business after the Crown Estate and local council initially gave approval for the demo.
Their report reveals a highly cynical move with XR organisers asking for elderly and disabled activists to attend the three-day demo as they knew the police would have a harder job removing them.
The group discussed how the ‘optics’ of police having to remove an elderly person would be in their favour.
Thousands of their XR followers are expected to descend on the Berkshire town.
The report by ASG says: ‘Activists will be meeting at The Long Walk to carry out that mass trespass into Windsor Castle Grounds at 6pm.
‘Activists have been asked to dress in business suits or as oil barons – there will be the XR red and black brigade doing their pageantry on the Long Walk itself.
‘However this will be a choreographed distraction to allow other activists to attempt to mass trespass into restricted areas of Windsor Castle grounds.
‘Should this be prevented or dispersed online chatter suggested targeting local businesses that serve high net worth individuals as secondary targets.
‘Several high end hotels were mentioned as part of this list. So those in the local area should be vigilant.’
Extinction Rebellion demonstrators are said to be planning on storming Windsor Castle during the weekend of action. Pictured: A view of the Long Walk down to the gates of Windsor Castle
In one meeting XR members were seen discussing why they have chosen Windsor as their next target
The group – who have previously shut down parts of London with protests – said King Charles understood the perils of climate change and quoted from an extract of a book he had written warning about the dangers facing the world.
He will not be in residence on the dates of the protest.
XR said they would not be targeting an individual but ‘the system’ as they demand immediate action and a ban on fossil fuels.
Catherine Bartlett, of Extinction Rebellion UK, said: ‘Windsor Castle has been chosen as an embodiment of a broken and unjust system where our message will resonate powerfully.
‘The general election has neither fixed our broken system nor addressed the urgent action needed to tackle the climate and nature emergency.
‘Aristocrats, oligarchs and corporate interests have infected and distorted our politics and media for their own benefit and at our expense.
‘Our politics is failing us from top to bottom. It’s time for a democratic upgrade.
‘We demand better at all levels; from the head of state to local councils but our central demand is for a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice, which is needed more urgently now than ever before.’
Windsor Great Park has been practising sustainable land use for hundreds of years and the Crown Estate has a commitment to hit Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030.
