In a bold demonstration, eight activists have been formally charged following incidents involving both the Crown Jewels and The Ritz, where crumble and custard were hurled, and manure was dumped, respectively.
Authorities have identified the individuals as part of Take Back Power, a newly formed protest group advocating for wealth redistribution with the slogan “tax the rich to fix Britain.” These activists are scheduled to face legal proceedings over the coming fortnight.
The charges are divided among four individuals for the Ritz incident and another four for the Crown Jewels episode, with an additional person accused of coordinating a shoplifting spree.
The accused, Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, Tom Barber, 66, Toby Ellwood, 21, and Tjalle Rumley, 26, are all facing charges of criminal damage after an unsavory act at the prestigious Piccadilly hotel on December 3 of last year.
During the protest, activists scattered manure beneath the hotel’s Christmas tree, leaving a malodorous pile on the plush carpet, prompting a swift response from security personnel.
In addition to their indoor antics, they held a demonstration outside the hotel, displaying banners proclaiming, “Inequality is sh**, tax the rich.”
Redwood-Brown, an NHS worker, and Barber, a former doctor, identified themselves as participants at the time, with the former saying: ‘The billionaires, corporations, and corrupt politicians running Britain don’t care about us.’
Barber said: ‘Power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of obscenely wealthy and ruthless individuals.
Activists from Take Back Power emptied bags of manure under a Christmas tree at The Ritz in Piccadilly, London, in December
Security guards swiftly removed the protesters after the manure was emptied in front of shocked guests and staff
‘They are hell-bent on enriching themselves, forcing the gap between the haves and the have-nots ever wider.’
Redwood-Brown and Barber will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, while Ellwood and Rumley will appear at the same court on April 29.
Three days after the Ritz stunt, on December 6, four people were arrested after activists smothered apple crumble and custard over a glass case housing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
Fatima Ali, 19, Miriam Cranch, 22, Mack Preston, 22, Matthew Cooper, 50, have all been charged with criminal damage over the second demonstration. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 27.
This time, the activists revealed a sign reading: ‘Democracy has crumbled – tax the rich.’
Footage shared by the group showed one demonstrator removing the large foil tray of crumble from a bag and then slamming it against the glass protecting the Imperial State Crown.
Another then sloshed a tub of bright yellow custard onto the front of the case.
The demonstrators then opened their coats to show t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Take Back Power’.
Activists smothered apple crumble and custard over a glass case containing the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London
The Metropolitan Police arrested four people at the time, who have now been charged with criminal damage
One pair unfurled a banner reading ‘democracy has crumbled, tax the rich’ in front of the soil display case
One shouted: ‘Britain is broken. We’ve come here to the jewels of the nation to take back power. Join us at takebackpower.net.’
The glass case targeted contains the Imperial State Crown, which is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the State Opening of Parliament.
It was worn by King Charles at his coronation in 2023, and was seen atop of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin during her lying-in-state period and subsequent state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The ninth suspect, David Kilroy, 66, has been charged with theft following an alleged incident of organised shoplifting at Sainsbury’s in Lewisham on March 14 this year.
He will appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on April 29.
After the commotion in The Ritz, a Take Back Power spokesperson said: ‘The super-rich have more than doubled their wealth since the pandemic, while this Christmas, a third of UK children suffer and grow up in poverty.
‘It’s time ordinary people – those most affected by inequality, get a say in deciding how to tax wealth through the means of a legally binding citizen’s assembly – a House of the People.’
Following the dessert sting in the Tower of London, the group said: ‘Since 2011, the poorest 10 per cent of households have paid a combined tax rate of 44 per cent on their income and wealth gains, while the richest paid 22 per cent.
‘Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people.
‘That’s why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.’
