Prosecutors say animal rights activists stole lambs belonging to King Charles III from a farm and are now facing court action. In testimony reported by the outlet, defendant Rosa Sharkey, 26, tells the court that the King was the intended target of the protest.

Sharkey says the monarchy was chosen because it was not financially dependent on sheep, and that the group wanted to provoke a “discussion.” She also adds that the King was targeted because he is described as an “environmentalist and an animal lover.” Other details of the case, including the full scope of the allegations and the positions of co-defendants or the prosecution, are not laid out in the provided excerpts.

The reporting centers on the accused activists’ stated motivation for selecting the King, emphasizing a perceived focus on environmental and animal-related views rather than, for example, claims about specific livestock economics. The case, as described, is presented through the defendants’ rationale as heard in court.