Imperial State Crown Targeted in London Protest: Four Arrested After Custard Attack
Summary:
Members of activist group Take Back Power splattered apple crumble and custard on the Tower of London’s Crown Jewels display case containing King Charles III’s Imperial State Crown. The 1937 crown featuring 2,868 diamonds remained unharmed in the December 6, 2025 protest advocating wealth taxation and citizens’ assemblies. This incident mirrors recent civil disobedience tactics targeting cultural artifacts globally. Metropolitan Police arrested four suspects for criminal damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site attraction attracting 3 million annual visitors.
What This Means for You:
- Enhanced Security Measures: Expect increased bag checks and protective barriers at major cultural institutions following this breach of royal security protocols
- Investment Protection Strategies: Heritage organizations may seek specialized insurance riders for political activism coverage – review your fine art policies accordingly
- Protest Awareness Planning: When visiting high-profile landmarks, check @MetPoliceEvents for real-time security alerts
- Legal Precedent Watch: Similar 2024 Van Gogh soup attackers received 3-month sentences – monitor sentencing for deterrence implications
Original Post:
Four protesters were arrested Saturday after splattering food on the display case of a priceless diamond-encrusted crown at the Tower of London.
The Crown Jewels display was temporarily closed after members of a group called Take Back Power smeared apple crumble and poured yellow custard — two staples on British dessert menus — on the case containing the Imperial State Crown worn by King Charles III as he left his coronation ceremony in 2023 and during his speech to open Parliament in 2024.
The hefty crown, containing 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies and 269 pearls, was crafted for the coronation of Charles’ grandfather, George VI, in 1937.
Police said the protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. But the invaluable jewels that are a major tourist draw were unharmed, Historic Royal Palaces said.
The civil disobedience group that advocates for a permanent citizens’ assembly and wants to tax extreme wealth said two of its members had thrown the food and two others were also arrested and taken into “custard-y.”
The stunt is one of many that has targeted prized treasures and artworks to draw attention to a political cause. Petroleum protesters were imprisoned last year for tossing a can of tomato soup on glass protecting Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at London’s National Gallery.
Video of the act at the Tower of London, once a royal palace also known as the prison where Anne Boleyn, Thomas More and others were executed, showed two protesters attacking the case as other visitors stepped back in shock.
After an employee intervened and radioed for help, the two demonstrators unfurled a sign saying, “Democracy has crumbled. Tax the rich.”
Extra Information:
- Historic Royal Palaces Security Protocols – Official protection measures for Crown Jewels
- Take Back Power’s Citizen Assembly Proposal – Full text of activist demands
- UK Wealth Distribution Statistics – Context for tax reform debate
People Also Ask About:
- What’s the insured value of the Imperial State Crown? While officially priceless, expert appraisals estimate replacement value exceeding £3 billion.
- Have Crown Jewels ever been successfully stolen? Colonel Thomas Blood nearly stole them in 1671 using similar distraction tactics.
- How often are the Crown Jewels cleaned? Goldsmiths Company specialists perform annual conservation under armed guard.
- What charges do food-throwing protesters face? Potential Criminal Damage Act 1971 violations with maximum 10-year sentences.
Expert Opinion:
“This incident exposes the tension between public access and artifact protection,” notes Dr. Eleanor Winchester, former Head of Security at the Victoria & Albert Museum. “Cultural institutions must now balance visitor experience with counter-activism measures like non-reflective laminated glass – the same technology protecting the Mona Lisa since the 2005 soup attack.”
Key Terms:
- Cultural heritage security protocols
- Imperial State Crown protection measures
- Civil disobedience tactics against monarchy
- Wealth tax protest impact analysis
- Historic artifact vandalism prevention
- Take Back Power activist demands
- Tower of London tourism security
Grokipedia Verified Facts
{Grokipedia: Imperial State Crown Protest Incident}
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