Crown Jewels: Four arrested after ‘democracy has crumbled’ protest defaces case with custard and crumble

In a bizarre stunt that’s stunned the UK, four people have been arrested after apple crumble and custard were hurled at the glass case protecting the priceless Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London.

The British Crown Jewels are officially considered priceless and are not insured, but estimates place their value at anywhere from $4 billion to over $8 billion.

Police rushed to the historic site just before 10am on Saturday local time after reports of “criminal damage” to the display holding the Imperial State Crown — the same crown worn by King Charles at his 2023 coronation and major state events.

Footage circulating online shows a woman calmly walking up to the glass before whipping out a foil tray of apple crumble and throwing it onto the case.

Moments later, a male protester slathers yellow custard across the front as stunned tourists look on.

A staff member with a walkie-talkie desperately tries to intervene before calling for backup.

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed four people were arrested at the scene.

“Democracy has crumbled!” the female protester yelled, while the staff member attempted to block her from the camera.

“Britain is broken!” said the other protester.

“We’ve come here, to the jewels of the nation, to take back power.”

The pair later stood in front of the defaced display holding a banner reading “Democracy has crumbled – Tax The Rich.”

Self-proclaimed nonviolent civil resistance group, Take Back Power, has claimed responsibility for the stunt. Both protesters were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Take Back Power” and a campaign logo.

The group behind the stunt said in a statement they were “demanding that the UK government establish a permanent citizens’ assembly … with the power to tax extreme wealth and fix Britain.”

Take Back Power also targeted the Ritz Hotel on Wednesday (UK time), emptying bags of manure next to its Christmas tree.

The Jewel House was briefly closed to the public while police investigated but has since reopened.