(Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Max Mumby)
A significant security breach unfolded on Windsor Castle grounds last month, raising concerns over safety protocols at one of Britain’s most iconic royal residences. Thames Valley Police reported that masked thieves infiltrated the estate on October 13, stealing a black Isuzu pickup truck and a red quad bike. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children, were asleep in Adelaide Cottage during the incident. Investigations are ongoing, but no arrests have been made so far.
According to The Sun, the burglars climbed a six-foot fence and breached the Shaw Farm Gate exit, one of the estate’s main entrances. Sources suggested that the perpetrators had meticulously planned the raid, stating, “They must have been watching Windsor Castle for a while. They knew the vehicles were stored there and timed their break-in to avoid being caught.” The robbers crashed through the security barrier at the exit, causing extensive damage that required immediate replacement.
The breach has been linked to a shortage of trained security officers. Armed personnel are now primarily stationed at the Changing of the Guard ceremony, leaving other critical access points less protected. One insider remarked, “Those on the gates feel like unprotected sitting ducks. Batons and Tasers are no match for armed terrorists.” While armed officers patrol within the castle’s perimeter, critics argue that a lack of visible high-security measures at external gates leaves the estate vulnerable.
The New York Times reports that, The Shaw Farm Gate exit, located just minutes from Adelaide Cottage, is one of two public access points to the castle grounds. The raid occurred on a Sunday night during a school week, with insiders confirming that the Wales children were likely at home during the robbery. Meanwhile, Queen Consort Camilla was in India, and King Charles III was in Scotland at the time. Buckingham Palace has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
This marks the second major breach at Windsor Castle in recent years. In a chilling earlier event, Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, armed with a crossbow and wearing a metal mask, was apprehended on castle grounds in December 2021, Chail, who declared his intent to assassinate the Queen, scaled the castle walls using a rope ladder and evaded detection for two hours.
Convicted of treason in February 2023, he was sentenced to nine years in prison, marking Britain’s first treason conviction in nearly 40 years. The recent break-in highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the security of royal properties, raising questions about whether sufficient measures are in place to protect both the estate and its residents.
