Nothing says “eat the rich” quite like smothering the symbols of monarchy in pudding. Now, if that’s not a sentence you thought you’d read on an unassuming Saturday morning, just wait until you hear about the custard.
Today, at The Tower of London, four protestors from a group calling themselves “Take Back Power” stormed the Jewel House and covered the display case hosting the Imperial State Crown with apple crumble and bright yellow custard.
Per the BBC, four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and the Tower of London has been partially closed to deal with what might just be one of the stickiest acts of civil disobedience we’ve witnessed over the past years.
As you can see for yourself below, footage shared by the group showed one demonstrator pulling a large foil tray of crumble from a bag and slamming it against the glass protecting the crown, while another poured custard on top of it.
— Take back POWER (@takeback_power) December 6, 2025
CRUMBLE AND CUSTARD ON THE CROWN JEWELS
Democracy has crumbled. Billionaires buy political influence whilst homeless people die on the streets.
We need a House of the People to tax the rich.
Donate to help take back power: https://t.co/fMDX5SNEKg pic.twitter.com/Tl7Wyfakvd
The suspects even had a speech prepared, because of course they did. Pulling out a microphone, a woman declared that democracy is well and truly over, and her fellow continued by adding, “Britain is broken. We’ve come here to the jewels of the nation to take back power.” You have to admit, it’s quite an imaginative way to protest inequality, even if the cleanup crew probably isn’t part of the 1%.
Reactions on social media range from outright condemnation to props for standing up to the establishment. Sure, apple-based vandalism wasn’t on anyone’s activism bingo card for 2025, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have our fun with it. Many users are also resisting the urge to make dessert jokes and failing spectacularly.
Anyone serving on a jury has a duty to acquit anyone for throwing custard at the crown jewels.
— Mike Baldwin (@Ralph_Hapschatt) December 6, 2025
The law should not concern itself with trifles.
If you visit the group’s website and social media, “Take Back Power” describes itself as a new non-violent civil resistance group fighting against billionaire political influence. Their website proclaims that “the hoarding of obscene wealth is driving us towards collapse” and calls for ordinary people to be at the heart of decision-making. How, you ask? Through the establishment of a permanent “House of the People” to tax the rich and put the 99% in charge. You know, kind of like the system we already have, except for all the political lobbying and favoritism that is casting a long shadow over the whole democracy thing.
At any rate, the State Crown has already weathered executions and wars and centuries of tumultuous British history, so I doubt that a bit of apple crumble is what finally does it in. As for the monarchy’s reputation, that’s been crumbling for years anyway. (You knew that was coming.)
