Three women on trial for stealing lambs from King's Sandringham Estate claiming monarch would consent

A trial has begun in the UK involving three women charged with stealing lambs from the King's Sandringham Estate. The defendants reportedly claimed during proceedings that they believed His Majesty King Charles III would have 'consented' to the rescue of the animals from Appleton Farm in Norfolk.

The defendants are 37-year-old Rose Patterson, along with 26-year-old Sarah Foy and 26-year-old Rosa Sharkey. Associated with the Animal Rising activist group and wearing pink T-shirts, the women took three lambs from the property before handing themselves in to police in Berkshire the following day.

Opening the case at Norwich Crown Court, prosecutor Dingle Clark described it as an 'intriguing case' with 'no doubt as to who took the three lambs'. He explained to the jury that the defendants intended to argue their actions were 'justified' because the animals were allegedly exposed to 'unlawful welfare standards' and needed rescuing.

However, the prosecution maintained there was 'no lawful reason to take them'. The incident dates back to May 2023, when the three defendants entered the King's estate at approximately 8pm and removed the three lambs, subsequently reporting themselves to a Windsor police station within the Thames Valley police area.

The trial highlights ongoing debates over radical animal rights activism, property rights, and the unusual legal arguments raised by activists attempting to justify the removal of livestock from royal and private agricultural holdings.