Photo: John Harper / The Image Bank Unreleased / Getty Images
The Tower of London temporarily closed its Jewel House on Saturday (December 6) after activists threw custard and apple crumble on a display case containing the U.K.'s Crown Jewels. The protest, which occurred just before 10 a.m. local time, led to the arrest of four individuals on suspicion of criminal damage.
The group responsible, Take Back Power, advocates for higher taxes on the wealthy and demands the establishment of a permanent "House of the People" to address economic disparities. During the protest, activists shouted slogans like "Democracy has crumbled" and "Britain is broken," while displaying a sign that read "Democracy has crumbled - Tax the Rich."
Footage shared by the group showed a demonstrator slamming a tray of crumble against the glass case protecting the Imperial State Crown, followed by another pouring bright yellow custard over it. Despite the dramatic display, Historic Royal Palaces, the charity managing the Tower, confirmed that the Crown Jewels were not damaged.
The Metropolitan Police, in collaboration with City of London Police and security officers, responded promptly to the incident. Police Minister Sarah Jones condemned the protest as "disgraceful" and emphasized the difference between the right to protest and criminal behavior.
This incident marks the second protest by Take Back Power in recent days, following a demonstration at The Ritz Hotel involving bags of manure. The Jewel House has since reopened to the public, while the Tower of London continues to attract millions of visitors annually, eager to see the historic treasures, including the Imperial State Crown, which was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and contains numerous precious stones.