Two women have admitted damaging a display case containing the Crown of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny at Edinburgh Castle, which was targeted during a protest against food poverty.

Jamie Priest, 26, and Catriona Roberts, 22, targeted the firm during a tour around the monument last year, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday.

The two men were charged with damaging the office and breaching the peace following the protest, alongside a third person, Joe Madden, 22, who was absent from court on Tuesday.

Priest and Roberts, both from Glasgow, admitted the charge of intentional damage during the hearing.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charge of disturbing the peace, which was accepted by the Crown.

The Crown Room was closed to the public after the incident, and Historic Environment Scotland said at the time that damage had been caused to the protective glass housing the relics.

The protest was reportedly linked to campaign group This Is Rigged, which released a statement at the time saying: “Food is a human right. Hunger is a political choice.

Fiscal depute Matthew Millar told the court a tour guide was escorting a group through the castle on November 15, 2023 and had reached the Crown Room when he heard one of them shout: “He’s This is a peaceful demonstration.

“The witness then turned around to observe a man standing in front of the cabinet that housed the Crown and the Stone of Destiny.

“This man was carrying a can of spray paint and sprayed the furniture with it.

“The tour guide pressed the panic button to alert staff and police to what was happening.

“At this point, Priest began filming the male’s actions.”

Mr Millar said the tour guide could see that a phrase had been written on the cabinet in Gaelic, which was later translated and understood to mean “The people are mightier than a lord”.

The fiscal depute added: “At this point Roberts and the man began to hit (the cabinet) using a hammer and chisel. »

He said Roberts also began shouting phrases such as “Baby products must be reduced to pre-Covid prices” and “There is no heritage without the people”.

Mr Millar continued: “The police then arrived and engaged in dialogue with everyone in the group.

“They made it clear that they were participating in a peaceful protest.

“They are warned, charged and chosen not to respond. »

Sheriff Alastair Noble asked for criminal justice social work reports to be prepared on both women before sentencing.

Priest and Roberts are expected to return to Edinburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing on December 3.