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Tower of London protest
Early on 6 December, activists from a group calling itself Take Back Power staged a protest at the Tower of London’s Jewel House, slamming a foil tray of apple crumble against the glass case and pouring bright yellow custard over the display protecting the Imperial State Crown.
“Activists from the group Take Back Power staged a protest at the Tower of London on 6 December, slamming an apple crumble tray and pouring bright yellow custard against the glass case protecting the Imperial State Crown while unveiling T-shirts and signs reading “Take Back Power” and “Democracy has crumbled – Tax the Rich.” Police were called at about 09:48 GMT, detained four people on suspicion of criminal damage (two others left the scene), and the Jewel House was briefly closed while officers and security checked the display.”
Police were called at about 09:48 GMT, and four people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage while two others left the scene; the Jewel House was briefly closed as officers and security checked the display before the attraction later reopened.
Multiple outlets reported video shared by the group showing the action and the subsequent arrests.
Protest stunt and demands
Footage circulated by Take Back Power shows demonstrators slamming a foil tray of crumble and pouring custard, then revealing T-shirts and banners reading slogans such as "Democracy has crumbled" and "Tax the Rich."
The group said the stunt aimed to press the UK government to create a permanent citizens' assembly — a "House of the People" — with powers to tax extreme wealth, and several outlets noted it followed other actions attributed to the group, such as dumping manure beside the Ritz's Christmas tree.
Some reports framed the protest as drawing attention to homelessness and housing inequality.
Jewel House incident response
Police and site officials responded swiftly.
“The Metropolitan Police were called at about 09:48 and, working with City of London Police and security staff, arrested four people on suspicion of criminal damage after two others left the scene.”
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, working with the City of London Police and Tower security, attended the scene, detained four suspects on suspicion of criminal damage, and temporarily closed the Jewel House for investigation.
Historic Royal Palaces and other authorities told multiple outlets that the Crown Jewels were not damaged and that the attraction subsequently reopened.
Posted footage showed staff and security trying to intervene.
Imperial State Crown coverage
Reporting about the Crown and public reaction varied.
Several outlets described the Imperial State Crown's history and gem-set details while stressing there was no reported physical harm to the jewels.
Some coverage flagged critics who called the stunt disrespectful.
Sources highlighted the crown's ceremonial importance, noting it was made in 1937 and is used at coronations and state openings of Parliament, and they reiterated that authorities had not reported damage to the jewels themselves.
Media coverage comparison
Coverage tone and context differed across source types: international and Asian outlets framed the incident as part of broader inequality protests, local Western outlets emphasized the immediate spectacle and operational disruption, and some Western mainstream papers included critical commentary and named individuals.
“A small group calling itself Take Back Power posted video of two people pressing a foil tray of crumble against the glass and splattering custard while shouting slogans such as "Democracy has crumbled!" and "Britain is broken."”
Several outlets placed the stunt in a wider pattern of recent cultural-site protests, while others focused on the group’s stated demand for a citizens’ assembly and higher taxes on the very wealthy.
Overall reporting converged on the facts of the stunt and arrests but diverged in emphasis and context.