§  Activists demand permanent citizen’s assembly to tax extreme wealth

§  Tower of London Crown Jewels Vandalized

§  Take Back Power Protest Throws Custard at Imperial State Crown Display Case

§  Four arrested at Tower of London after Take Back Power threw custard and crumble at Imperial State Crown

Tower Of London: Four protesters were arrested after deliberately throwing custard and apple crumble at a display case containing the Imperial State Crown—one of the world’s most precious and symbolically significant jewels—at the Tower of London on Saturday morning, December 6, 2025.

The Metropolitan Police responded to reports of criminal damage at 9:48 AM GMT after activists from Take Back Power, a newly-formed non-violent civil-resistance group, struck the protective glass case housing the State Crown with food items as a dramatic protest against UK wealth inequality.

The incident forced complete closure of the Jewel House within the Tower of London, one of Britain’s most visited historical attractions, while police investigation continued.

Take Back Power claimed responsibility for the stunt, framing the Crown Jewels vandalism as symbolic protest demanding the UK government establish a permanent citizen’s assembly—a “House of the People”—empowered to tax extreme wealth and “fix Britain”.

The audacious protest, simultaneously mundane (custard and crumble) yet symbolically charged (attacking royal symbols), sparked immediate debate regarding protest tactics, wealth inequality activism and whether property damage against symbolic targets constitutes effective civil resistance or counterproductive vandalism.

The Incident: When Custard Met Crown Jewels—Symbolic Protest or Criminal Damage.?

At approximately 9:48 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2025, four protesters entered the Jewel House at the Tower of London carrying what appeared to be innocent items: food containers.

The Protest Execution

Surveillance footage shared by Take Back Power on social media documented the protest’s choreographed execution: one activist removed a large foil tray of apple crumble from a bag, then deliberately slammed it against the protective glass case containing the Imperial State Crown.

A second protester then poured bright yellow custard across the case’s front, coating the protective glass with the dessert sauce.

“Democracy has crumbled,” one protester shouted during the stunt, establishing the protest’s symbolic meaning: custard and crumble served as metaphor for Britain’s crumbling democracy and inequality-ravaged society.

Another added: “Britain is broken. We’ve come here to the jewels of the nation to take back power”—articulating the protest’s core argument that national treasures (Crown Jewels) symbolize concentrated wealth while ordinary citizens struggle.

Immediate Response

Tower of London staff immediately responded with one employee speaking urgently into her radio while tourists reacted with shock and confusion.

Metropolitan Police and City of London Police arrived quickly, apprehending all four protesters.

Officers confirmed the four individuals were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and taken into custody.

The Tower of London subsequently closed to public visitors while investigation continued, forcing cancellation of thousands of tourist visits and disrupting one of London’s most iconic attractions.

Take Back Power: Who Are the Activists Behind the Crown Jewels Protest.?

Take Back Power describes itself as a new non-violent civil-resistance group focused on UK wealth inequality and demanding systematic economic transformation.

The Group’s Demands

The organization explicitly demands: “The UK Government establish a permanent citizen’s assembly – a House of the People – empowered to tax extreme wealth and fix Britain”.

This citizen’s assembly framework would represent ordinary British citizens’ interests—particularly those “most affected by inequality”—giving them legal binding power over wealth taxation policy.

Essentially, Take Back Power advocates for democratic mechanism where ordinary citizens directly determine how extreme wealth gets taxed, rather than elected politicians potentially influenced by wealthy donors determining taxation policy.

Escalating Protest Pattern

The Tower of London Crown Jewels protest represented Take Back Power’s second high-profile symbolic action within days.

On December 3, 2025—just three days prior—Take Back Power activists dumped bags of horse manure beneath the Ritz Hotel’s Christmas tree as wealth-inequality protest, then displayed signs outside reading “Inequality is s***. Tax the rich”.

The protest group identified protest participants: 23-year-old worker and 65-year-old former doctor, journalist and community worker from Nottingham.

Both were quoted demanding higher taxation on “the rich” to foster “a fairer society”.

Strategic Symbolism

Take Back Power consciously selects targets representing extreme wealth concentration: luxury hotels (Ritz), royal symbols (Crown Jewels), luxury brands.

By juxtaposing crude but recognizable materials (horse manure, custard, crumble) against symbols of wealth and privilege, the group communicates message: extreme inequality represents society’s fundamental “crumbling,” symbolized through literal crumbling food defacing royal treasures.

The protest’s multimedia documentation strategy—sharing footage on social media—demonstrates conscious effort to extend protest’s reach beyond physical location to digital audience.

The Symbolic Message: Crown Jewels as Wealth Inequality Metaphor

The Crown Jewels represent not merely monetary value but centuries-accumulated national treasure symbolizing British monarchy, imperial history and institutional continuity.

Why Crown Jewels Matter Symbolically

The Imperial State Crown, defaced by custard and crumble, functions as loaded symbol: extraordinary wealth concentrated in iconic object, protected behind thick glass, housed in military fortress (Tower of London), accessible primarily to wealthy tourists and royal ceremonies.

Meanwhile, ordinary British citizens struggle with cost-of-living crisis, energy bills, housing affordability and systemic inequality.

Take Back Power’s protest juxtaposes this contradiction: untouchable wealth symbols literally defaced by everyday food (custard, crumble) representing ordinary citizens’ frustration.

The protest communicates: if crown jewels are “Britain’s heritage,” shouldn’t ordinary British people benefit economically rather than serving primarily as tourist attractions generating revenue for historical institutions and royal coffers.?

“Democracy Has Crumbled” Message

The protester’s declaration—”Democracy has crumbled”—while literally throwing crumble at royal symbols carries multilayered meaning: actual UK democracy feels compromised by wealth concentration, political systems fail ordinary citizens, democratic participation remains illusory without economic transformation.

The protest demands citizen’s assembly represent attempt at genuine democracy: ordinary people directly determining taxation of extreme wealth rather than expecting elected representatives (frequently influenced by wealthy donors) to naturally prioritize equality.

Legal Consequences and Criminal Damage Charges: What Now for Arrested Activists.?

The four arrested protesters face criminal damage charges carrying potential significant legal consequences.

Criminal Damage Prosecution

Criminal damage charges in UK law typically involve intentional property destruction or damage likely causing expense to restore.

The Crown Jewels display case, though protected by thick protective glass, suffered surface damage (custard and crumble coating) requiring professional cleaning.

Depending on damage assessment and case-specific factors, criminal damage convictions can result in fines, community service, or imprisonment depending on damage severity and intentionality.

Police Investigation Continuation

Metropolitan Police and City of London Police continued investigation while Tower remained closed.

Investigation would determine whether Crown Jewels suffered actual physical damage (unlikely given protective glass), assess cleaning/restoration costs, evaluate activist coordination suggesting premeditation and determine whether charges involved conspiracy or coordinated planning.

Public Reaction: Divided Opinion on Wealth Inequality Protest Tactics

The incident sparked immediate social media and public debate regarding protest legitimacy, property damage morality and whether disrupting national treasures advances or undermines wealth-equality activism.

Supporting Perspectives

Wealth inequality advocates argued the protest effectively highlighted systemic inequality: no other protest might generate comparable media attention or force national conversation regarding wealth taxation.

Some observers noted custard and crumble damage remains trivial compared to genuine harm caused by wealth inequality—poverty, inadequate healthcare, homelessness, educational disparity.

Supporters characterized the protest as deliberately non-violent (food items caused no injury, minimal property damage) fulfilling Take Back Power’s stated non-violent civil-resistance philosophy.

Critical Perspectives

Critics argued property vandalism undermines progressive causes by generating unsympathetic headlines, alienating potential allies and providing ammunition for conservative commentators to dismiss wealth-equality activists as vandals rather than legitimate advocates.

Some observers questioned whether Tower of London closure—preventing thousands of tourists (including ordinary citizens) from visiting—represented proportionate protest tactic.

Others argued Crown Jewels protection and prestige derive from institutional history rather than wealth defense, making royal symbols potentially inappropriate targets for wealth-inequality activism.

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The Broader Context: UK Wealth Inequality Crisis and Activism Escalation

Take Back Power’s Crown Jewels protest occurs within context of intensifying UK wealth inequality and corresponding activism escalation.

UK Wealth Crisis Reality

UK wealth inequality has increased substantially over past two decades: top 1% wealth share approaches 30% while bottom 50% controls approximately 10%.

Cost-of-living crisis has devastated ordinary households: energy bills tripled, food costs surged, housing affordability declined dramatically.

Simultaneously, billionaire wealth concentration accelerated, with ultra-wealthy individuals seeing net worth increase during economic hardship periods.

Citizen’s Assembly Strategy Rationale

Take Back Power’s citizen’s assembly demand reflects growing recognition that traditional political processes fail to adequately address inequality.

Citizen assemblies involve random selection of ordinary people (like jury duty) to deliberate policy issues, research evidence and recommend solutions—theoretically generating policy priorities reflecting average citizen interests rather than wealthy donor preferences.

Several countries (France, Ireland, Belgium) successfully implemented citizen assemblies with substantial public support and policy influence.

UK citizens’ assemblies remain limited, suggesting Take Back Power identifies genuine democratic gap: no permanent mechanism exists giving ordinary citizens direct say in determining wealth taxation policy.

Key Facts Summary

·       Incident Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:48 AM GMT

·       Location: Tower of London, Jewel House

·       Target: Imperial State Crown display case

·       Materials Used: Custard and apple crumble

·       Arrests: Four individuals arrested (names not released)

·       Charges: Criminal damage

·       Response: Tower of London closed to public

·       Protest Group: Take Back Power (non-violent civil-resistance)

·       Primary Demand: Permanent citizen’s assembly (“House of the People”)

·       Secondary Demand: Power to tax extreme wealth

·       Previous Action: Ritz Hotel manure dumping (December 3, 2025)

Conclusion: When Property Damage Becomes Political Message—Does Vandalism Advance or Undermine Activism.?

The Tower of London Crown Jewels incident—custard defacing the Imperial State Crown—crystallizes contemporary protest dilemma: how can activists generate sufficient attention regarding inequality without resorting to property damage potentially alienating sympathetic audiences.?

Take Back Power deliberately selected symbolism: monarchy, wealth, national treasures, protective barriers isolating treasures from ordinary access.

The protest’s execution—using ordinary food (custard, crumble) representing household staples inaccessible to struggling citizens—communicated vivid inequality message.

Yet the vandalism simultaneously generated negative headlines, legal consequences for activists and potential backlash against wealth-inequality movements.

Whether this protest ultimately advances citizen’s assembly establishment and wealth taxation remains unclear.

What appears certain: Take Back Power succeeded in generating global media attention, forcing public conversation regarding UK wealth inequality and demonstrating that growing numbers of citizens find systemic inequality insufficiently tolerable.

Whether public attention translates into policy change will determine whether this custard-defaced Crown Jewels moment ultimately represents effective activism or counterproductive vandalism.

Call to Action (CTA)

The Tower of London Crown Jewels protest forces urgent reckoning: as wealth inequality deepens across UK society, will citizens demand systemic change through democratic means or watch growing frustration manifest through increasingly dramatic actions.? Take Back Power’s custard-defaced Crown Jewels represents crystallizing moment when property damage becomes political speech.

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