Just a few days before Christmas, a worrying security incident occurred at Princess Kate and Prince William's London residence. A 39-year-old man is said to have entered the grounds of Kensington Palace twice. As reported by 'People', the suspect was arrested after the incidents and has now been officially charged. The royals and their three children were not in the capital at the time, but were said to have been at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate - their retreat for the children's days off school.
Defendant already appeared in court
The 39-year-old defendant is facing charges of trespassing on specially protected premises and breaches of conditions. The incidents took place on a Sunday and the following Tuesday in December in Palace Green, the area in front of Kensington Palace. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police explained that the offender had been arrested on suspicion of trespassing in a protected area. He has since appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he is said to have admitted the charges.
Security cameras register intruder at the palace
According to the British newspaper 'The Times', the burglar was discovered on the publicly accessible side of the grounds after security cameras registered his presence. He is not believed to have entered the main building of Kensington Palace. Nevertheless, the case is being taken very seriously by the authorities as it is an officially protected area that is under special security status. According to the report, a judge stated that he was refusing to release the man on bail because, in the event of a conviction, "a real possibility of a prison sentence" exists.
Kate and William with children at the Christmas service
Shortly after the incidents, the heir to the throne and the Princess of Wales appeared in public again. Together with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, they attended the traditional Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk, northern England. Attending the service and socializing with the waiting crowd afterwards is a firm ritual for the royal family. While the public saw festive pictures of the family there, investigations into the incidents in London were already underway in the background.
Review: Incident in Windsor and new home Forest Lodge
The current case is one in a series of security problems at royal residences. In June last year, there was an attempted intrusion at Windsor Castle, the ancestral home of the British royal family. In the meantime, Prince William and Princess Kate's family have moved into their new permanent home at Forest Lodge near Windsor. The move, just a few miles from their previous home at Adelaide Cottage, is intended to stabilize the children's everyday lives and the couple's work in the long term, while security issues remain a top priority.
