Scuffle breaks out after cast member raises Palestinian flag on Royal Opera House stage
Video footage shared on social media showed a brief tussle between the actor who unfurled the flag and a staff member who tried to take it off him.
The actor, who forcefully managed to yank the flag back, then continued to display it as the other cast members bowed to the audience.
The bizarre incident, which took place at the encore of Il trovatore at the London venue in Covent Garden, shocked members of the audience.
A witness told the Telegraph: '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.'
Another on X on Saturday added: 'Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight.
'During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag. Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible.'
pic.twitter.com/9zeJu4hdJK
— Syd Cassimaty (@sydcas) July 20, 2025
Opera fan Stephen Ratcliffe, who was also watching the production, on X added: 'Controversy at end of Trovatore @rbo_org tonight when an extra/chorus member unfurled a Palestinian flag.
'Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground. Bet he won't be working there again.'
A spokesman for the Royal Ballet and Opera said: 'The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist. It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.'
The waving of the flag has been interpreted as a shocking act of political allegiance, with some comments online calling for the actor to be sacked.
MailOnline has contacted the Royal Ballet and Opera for further comment.
The Royal Opera House and The Royal Opera have His Majesty The King as their official patron.
The company has long been associated with the royals. It officially became 'The Royal Opera' in 1968 when it was awarded a Royal Charter.
Since the construction of the first theater on the site in 1732, opera has been a regular attraction for the elites of Britain.
In recent years, The Royal Opera has given an average of 150 performances per Season of approximately twenty operas.
The main auditorium seats 2,256 people, making it the third largest in London, and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery.
The flag controversy happened during the show which takes place in an imagined 15th century, telling the story of Azucena who claims that in a moment of madness she consigned her own baby to her mother's funeral pyre.
Meanwhile Manrico, her surviving son, is locked in conflict with the Count di Luna for the love of Leonora.
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