London, United Kingdom - July 19, 2025 A Palestinian flag was at the centre of a tussle after it was unfolded on stage at the Royal Opera House in London by a cast member on Saturday night during a curtain call. The incident took place during the encore of Il Trovatore on Saturday night, and attempts to remove the flag were resisted. “At the Royal Opera House, one of the cast unfurled a Palestinian flag at the encore. Someone from the opera house/company then came on stage from the wings to try to remove the flag from the cast member who wrestled it back and refused to give it up during Il Trovatore,” a member of the audience told the Telegraph. A spokesperson for the Royal Ballet and Opera said: “The display of the flag was an unauthorised action by the artist. It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is a wholly inappropriate act.” A video of the incident, posted on social media, shows a man, thought to be a Royal Opera House staff member, appearing from the wings and attempting to forcibly wrest the flag off the protesting cast member. But the cast member managed to yank the flag back, and continued to display it as the other cast members in front bowed to the audience. During the tussle, two other performers who are stood alongside the protester can be seen lurching to their side. Cast members further forward on the stage appeared oblivious what was happening behind them. SHOTLIST Video of the incident on 19 July. [Credit: X/sydcas]