Animal activists have taken three sheep from a farm on the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
The lambs were taken by protesters from group Animal Rising on Wednesday evening, before the three women involved in the stunt handed themselves in to the police.
Animal Rising on Thursday shared photos of the women removing lambs, which it claims “would have otherwise shortly been sent for slaughter”, from Appleton Farm.
The group says the lambs are now “safe and with animal experts who will care for them and allow them to live happily”.
“Three lambs have been rescued from a royal farm on Sandringham Estate,” the group wrote on Twitter.
In an update posted around 10am, it said the women - named as Rosa Sharkey, Sarah Foy, and Rose Patterson - had handed themselves in to police.
“They did this because rescuing animals from harm is the right thing to do,” wrote the group.
“These women have acted out of compassion and they stand by the belief that a jury of ordinary people will take the side of care and freedom.
“This is how we fix our broken relationship with animals.”
It added that the activists had tried to rescue a mother sheep but “despite our best efforts, this time it wasn’t possible”.
“We take solace in knowing that we have done our best by these babies, saving them from slaughter and helping them to a long life of freedom,” the group said.
It also urged people to sign a public statement in support of the trio’s actions, which has so far attracted 200 signatures.
Thursday’s action comes after a high-profile stunt in December saw Animal Rising free 20 beagles from an animal testing facility in Cambridgeshire, two of which were later returned to the centre by police.
The 20,000-acre Sandringham Estate is a much-loved country retreat that has been in the royal family for more than a century. It is now owned by King Charles III.
The late Queen Elizabeth II formerly frequently stayed there from Christmas until mid-February, with close members of the royal family joining her for the festive season.
Grade-II listed Sandringham House and its gardens are also open to visiting members of the public, along with its sprawling parkland.
The Sandringham Estate has been approached by the Standard for a comment.
