The Tower of London has been closed after activists vandalised a display case housing the Imperial Crown, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, quoted by The Independent.
“On Saturday, December 6, at 10:48am, police were called to the Tower of London to reports of criminal damage to the display case housing the Imperial Crown. Four protesters threw food at the display case, after which two of them fled the scene,“ the statement said. “Four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They are in custody.“ The Tower is closed to the public while the police investigation continues.
According to the BBC, the protest was organized by the civil disobedience movement “Take Back Power“, which is demanding that the British government create a House of the People – an assembly of lay politicians to develop proposals to address national problems, in parallel with the House of Commons and the House of Lords. According to reports, activists threw apple crumble into a shop window and poured cream over it.
The Tower of London was founded around 950 years ago by William the Conqueror and has served as a fortress, royal residence, prison and palace throughout its long history, becoming one of the most famous and exceptionally well-preserved historical buildings in the world. The castle has been continuously reconstructed, expanded and renovated. It housed a mint, an arsenal, a gold reserve, a national archive, a royal menagerie and even an observatory.
The castle houses the Royal Treasury, containing a collection of royal regalia, utensils and jewellery made of gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphires, rubies and pearls. The tower contains ten crowns. These include the State Crown of St. Edward, the Crown of the British Empire, the Small Diamond Crown of Queen Victoria and the Crown of Frederick, Prince of Wales.