Read on Global NewsProtesters Arrested After Targeting Crown Jewels with Food in Political Act
Four activists from the group Take Back Power were arrested at the Tower of London after smearing apple crumble and pouring custard on the display case of the Imperial State Crown. The protest, which temporarily closed the Crown Jewels exhibit, was a symbolic act aimed at highlighting demands for a permanent citizens' assembly and a tax on extreme wealth. While the priceless jewels were unharmed, the incident reflects a growing trend of targeting cultural artifacts to draw attention to political causes.
In a dramatic act of political protest, four individuals were arrested at the Tower of London on Saturday after targeting one of the United Kingdom's most iconic treasures. The activists splattered desserts, including apple crumble and yellow custard, onto the protective display case housing the Imperial State Crown, a priceless symbol of the monarchy. The incident, which led to the temporary closure of the Crown Jewels exhibit, underscores the lengths to which some groups will go to amplify their message in an era of heightened social and political activism.
The Incident at the Tower of London
According to reports from The Canadian Press, the protest occurred within the secure confines of the Tower of London, a historic fortress and major tourist attraction. Two members of the group Take Back Power approached the display case and threw the food items, while two other individuals were also subsequently arrested. Video footage from the scene showed visitors stepping back in shock as the act unfolded, before an employee intervened and called for assistance.
The Protesters and Their Demands
The group behind the action, Take Back Power, identifies as a civil disobedience organization advocating for systemic political change. Following the incident, the group stated that its members had carried out the protest to draw attention to their core demands: the establishment of a permanent citizens' assembly and the implementation of taxes on extreme wealth. As the protesters were led away, they unfurled a banner reading, "Democracy has crumbled. Tax the rich," explicitly linking their dessert-based symbolism to their political critique.
The Target: The Imperial State Crown
The object of the protest was no ordinary artifact. The Imperial State Crown is one of the most valuable and symbolically charged items in the Crown Jewels collection. Crafted for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, it contains 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies, and 269 pearls. It was most recently worn by King Charles III as he left his coronation ceremony in 2023 and during his speech to open Parliament in 2024. Fortunately, Historic Royal Palaces confirmed that the invaluable jewels themselves were completely unharmed, with only the exterior display case being soiled.
Legal Repercussions and Public Safety
London's Metropolitan Police arrested the four individuals on suspicion of criminal damage. While the act was largely symbolic and caused no permanent harm to the crown, it represents a significant breach of security at a high-profile heritage site. Such incidents force institutions to continually evaluate and strengthen their protective measures for irreplaceable cultural assets, balancing public access with necessary security.
A Growing Trend of Cultural Targeting
This protest is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern where activist groups target high-profile artworks and cultural treasures to garner media attention for their causes. As noted in the coverage, similar tactics were employed last year when environmental protesters were imprisoned for throwing tomato soup at the glass protecting Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery. These acts spark complex debates about the ethics of protest, the sanctity of public heritage, and the effectiveness of such dramatic methods in shifting public opinion or policy.
Conclusion: Symbolism and Substance
The custard and crumble protest at the Tower of London serves as a vivid, if unconventional, chapter in the long history of political demonstration. By choosing a symbol of immense historical, monetary, and constitutional value, Take Back Power ensured their action would not be ignored. While the Crown Jewels remain safe, the incident raises enduring questions about the lines between peaceful protest, criminal damage, and the powerful role of symbolism in modern activism. It highlights how public spaces and treasures can become contested arenas where deeper societal debates about democracy, inequality, and power are forcefully, and messily, played out.
