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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

PETA founder grim demand for body parts to be sent to King Charles after she dies

The founder of PETA has demanded that a part of her body be sent to King Charles III after her death in a bizarre protest.

Ingrid Newkirk, who set up the animal rights group more than 40 years ago, is to bequeath a piece of her neck to the monarch in her will - as well as one of her legs to the Grand National and a piece of her heart to Elon Musk.

The British-born campaigner hopes this will help her activism live long after her death, the group said.

Her planned stunt comes in opposition to the Royal Family's associations with pigeon racing, and she says her neck will be sent to him if he does not cut The Firm's ties to the sport.

PETA claims the necks of losing birds are often wrung after enduring cross-Channel races and other major events, during which many are said to perish.

Ms Newkirk has also requested in her updated will that some of her "bare skin" be left to the Ministry of Defence if it is still using real bear skin for the King's Guards' caps when faux fur is readily available.

For another target across the pond, Ingrid hopes to leave a piece of her heart to billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk for him to clone in response to his brain implant company Neuralink's testing on animals.

Ms Newkirk also wants one of her legs to be removed and broken after her death and displayed at Aintree racecourse during the Grand National - so she can draw attention to the injuries horses have sustained during the famous race.

The planned stunt comes in opposition to the Royal Family's associations with pigeon racing (Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Animal rights campaigners have been calling for jump racing to be banned and more stringent safety measures to be put in place after three horses died at this year's Grand National Festival.

The PETA founder has also asked for her trachea to be sent to the organisers of dog show Crufts over allegations of the promotion of breathing-impaired breeds, and an ear to the King of Spain in protest against the country's bullfighting.

Explaining her unusual requests, Ms Newkirk said: "On his deathbed, they asked Bob Hope where he wanted to be buried and he replied 'Surprise me'.

"In my case, when I die I hope to keep on surprising those who harm animals, provoking conversation about speciesism, and campaigning against animal abuse."

Buckingham Palace and the Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.

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