An armed intruder was arrested yesterday after breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle as the Queen prepared to celebrate Christmas wi...
An armed intruder was arrested yesterday after breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle as the Queen prepared to celebrate Christmas with her family.
Sources suggested the man was armed with a crossbow and used a rope ladder to scale a metal fence but police refused to divulge exactly what he was carrying, only that it was an offensive weapon.
It is understood he was spotted on CCTV roaming the gardens at around 8.30am after scaling an outer wall. Armed response teams raced to the scene within minutes.
It is not clear if the intruder got close to the Queen's private apartments. Police confirmed he did not enter any buildings and quickly ruled out any terrorist motive.
Last night, a 19-year-old man from Southampton was being held on suspicion of 'breach or trespass of a protected site' and possession of an offensive weapon.
Crossbows are often referred to as 'lethal but legal' because they require no licence or registration and can be bought on the internet.
Within an hour of the security scare, the Queen, who is having Christmas at Windsor instead of Sandringham due to Covid fears, welcomed Prince Charles and Camilla to the castle.
Tourist stand in front of the Henry VII gate and take pictures at Windsor castle at Windsor, England on Christmas Day
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have arrived for the Christmas Matins service in Windsor Castle
The Queen paid an emotional tribute to her late husband Prince Philip in her Christmas message, while sitting beside a framed picture of the royal couple (pictured)
Prince Edward and Sophie arrived soon afterwards with their children, Lady Louise, 18, and Viscount Severn, 14.
Charles, Edward and their wives were later photographed as they made their way to a service in St George's Chapel in the grounds of the castle.
The Queen missed the service in what is understood to be a personal choice.
All the Royals then had lunch together.
The break-in came as the 95-year-old Monarch reflected on a year of personal grief in a deeply personal Christmas message, her first since Prince Philip's death.
She said his 'mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.'
A Palace source said: 'Fortunately the intruder was apprehended and police were on the scene almost immediately but there is a chill in the air over what could have been.'
One source said: 'Security controllers monitoring the CCTV couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted the man carrying what appeared to be a crossbow, and scrambled armed police.'
Thames Valley's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said: 'This individual was arrested at the earliest opportunity and had not entered any buildings.
'I've spoken to the Chief Constable and we want reassurances about the security.'
The man was taken to Maidenhead police station. It is believed to be at least the third major security breach at Windsor in the past year.
Five intruders made it on to royal grounds with two breaches coming days apart, in April.
In one, a woman was allowed into Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge after claiming she was his fiancee and they had a lunch appointment.
Last week, a woman was arrested after banging on Prince Andrew's car window and shouting at him as he drove from Royal Lodge to the castle.
Sophie and Edward were accompanied by their daughter Lady Louise and son James, Viscount Severn. The royals were greeted at the entrance by the Dean of Windsor before moving inside for the morning service
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrive to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St George's Chapel
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