Ex-Royal Cop Opens Up About King Charles' Guards Falling Asleep on the Job At Windsor Castle
The Windsor security issue clearly exposed how much the King of England's security was in a jeopardy and former head of royal protection had some scathing remarks about it.
In a recent royal security scandal that could overtake even Michael Fagan’s 1982 break-in, the police officers involved in protecting the royal family at Windsor Castle are currently under investigation for allegedly sleeping on duty and leaving their posts unattended. Now, Dai Davies, who was in charge of the Royal Protection Command from 1994 to 1998, has given his take on it. And he had some brutal suggestions for the guilty.
Davies has previously worked with senior royals, including King Charles and Princess Diana. He told the Daily Express, “If it's true and the allegations are sustained and proved, then those guilty should be disciplined or sacked. Supervision should be reviewed. It is totally unacceptable.” Currently, the UK is at a severe threat level following the recent stabbing of two Jewish men. Davies further highlighted the importance of tight security in scary times like these. “And, given the current threat level, all royal palaces should be tightly guarded, and those charged with protecting all the royals and their palace homes and movements should be on high alert,” he said.
At least three serious incidents have been reported on palace grounds in recent years. Each more terrifying than the other. In June last year, a man in his 30s reportedly climbed up the wall and was subsequently arrested for trespassing and possession of Class A drugs. In 2021, a crossbow-wielding man had broken in on Christmas Day, wanting to “kill the Queen.” There have been breaches in royal security on other palace grounds apart from Windsor Castle.
In 2024, thieves took a pick-up truck and a quad bike from an estate farm and smashed them through a security gate near Prince William and Kate Middleton’s former home, Adelaide Cottage. More recently, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s new home, Marsh Farm, has been the target of many trespassers. In April, a man and a woman climbed over the fence and didn’t leave until the security reacted to them. Earlier this month, a masked man tried to attack the former Duke of York when he was out walking his dogs in the evening.
The Michael Fagan incident is perhaps one of the most infamous incidents of trespassing. In 1982, Fagan broke into the late Queen Elizabeth’s bedroom in Buckingham Palace. While the monarch had pressed the alarm button, it seemed like they glitched as security guards didn’t rush the way she would have expected them to. The queen calmly engaged Fagan in conversation until the officers arrived and detained him.
The recent security issue at Windsor Castle has essentially put the King of England’s security in jeopardy. It has exposed some of the most disturbing follies in the protection of the royal family.
