Three animal rights activists accused of taking lambs from the Sandringham Estate, owned by King Charles, have argued in court that their actions were justified and that the King would have consented to their intervention. The case, heard at Norwich Crown Court, involves Rose Patterson, 37, Sarah Foy, 26, and Rosa Sharkey, 26, who reportedly entered Appleton Farm in Norfolk on May 24, 2023, and removed three lambs without permission.

The women, who are affiliated with Animal Rising, a vegan advocacy group connected to Extinction Rebellion, admitted to posting videos of themselves at the farm wearing branded T-shirts. They voluntarily surrendered to police the day after the incident and deny theft charges.

Prosecutor Dingle Clark described the case as "intriguing," acknowledging there is no dispute over who took the lambs but emphasizing that the prosecution maintains there was no lawful reason for their removal. Clark argued that despite their claimed motivations, the defendants took animals that legally belonged to another party without authorization.

In statements made to police, the defendants said they believed they were rescuing the lambs due to concerns about their welfare, referencing an earlier injured animal at the site. They contended that returning the animals would expose them to "unlawful welfare standards," and that their intent was to ensure the lambs' safety for the remainder of their natural lives. The activists also linked their actions to wider environmental concerns, criticizing farming practices as contributing to climate change and advocating for a sustainable, animal-free food system.

The trial heard that King Charles is the official owner of the lambs, with care overseen by head stockman Gordon Robinson. Robinson identified the specific field from which the lambs were taken based on images and video footage shared by Animal Rising on social media platforms. He estimated the value of the lambs at up to £500 and confirmed the farm had passed three inspections by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) within five years, confirming compliance with welfare standards.

Robinson described the Sandringham Estate’s operation as raising forest-fed lambs primarily for consumption, with lambs typically reared until slaughter between 16 and 52 weeks of age. While some sheep are kept for breeding, the majority are raised for meat. He underscored that the three individuals had no permission to access the land or remove the animals.

During the proceedings, the defendants, dressed in black and seated separately from the dock due to two representing themselves, maintained their defense of necessity and moral justification. The trial is ongoing.