Prince of Wales residence breached twice ahead of Christmas Intruder charged

The Prince and Princess of Wales were twice targeted by an intruder allegedly carrying a heavy rucksack, who gained access to their official residence in Kensington Palace in the days before Christmas.

Derek Egan, 39, was reportedly seen climbing over a fence into the palace gardens on December 21 and again on December 23. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Egan has been charged with two counts of trespassing on a protected site, Mirror reports.

A spokesperson for the Met said: “On December 23, Derek Egan, 39, of Clayfield Way, Hillingdon, was charged with trespassing on a protected site and breaching bail conditions. He was remanded in custody and appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on December 24. The charges relate to incidents on December 21 and December 23 when Egan was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site in Palace Green, Kensington.”

Although the Prince and Princess were not in residence—having relocated to Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate for the traditional Christmas celebrations—they were reportedly preparing for the holiday in London at the time.

Experts have expressed concern over the repeated intrusions. Dai Davies, former head of the Met Police’s Royal and Specialist Protection branch, said: “The fact he repeated the offending after being given bail, given the nature of it, gives serious cause for concern. The police must work out what level of danger the Royal Family were in, and based on the charges, why on Earth he was given bail?”

The incidents highlight the ongoing security challenges faced by the Royal Family. In 2021, Jaswant Singh Chail attempted to enter Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow while the late Queen Elizabeth II was in residence and was later sentenced to nine years in prison for treason. Judge Mr Justice Hilliard described Chail’s intent as “not just to harm or alarm the sovereign—but to kill her,” emphasizing the severity of the threat.

The Metropolitan Police said Egan was apprehended on both occasions by specialist royal protection officers. The breaches have prompted calls for a review of royal security measures, particularly regarding bail decisions and protection protocols during high-profile periods such as Christmas.

By Vafa Guliyeva