Windsor Castle hit by break-in as thieves steal vehicles PHOTO

Masked thieves broke into the Windsor Castle estate on November 17, stealing farm vehicles while the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children slept at nearby Adelaide Cottage. 

Two men scaled a fence to access Shaw Farm, a working farm within the castle's security zone. They used a stolen truck to smash through a security gate, then drove off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike stored in a barn, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, aged 42, were at Adelaide Cottage with their children George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6. King Charles and Queen Camilla were not in residence; the King was in Scotland and Camilla was abroad in India.

The break-in was only discovered when the thieves crashed through the security barrier at Shaw Farm. Although Windsor Castle has alarms, the first sign of the crime came from the damaged barrier, which has since needed replacing.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police confirmed the burglary and stated that no arrests had been made. An investigation is ongoing.

The break-in follows a decision to remove armed police from Windsor Castle’s two main public entrances due to a shortage of qualified officers. Armed police are now only stationed at the front of the castle during the Changing of the Guard ceremonies.

This is not the first security scare at Windsor Castle; in December 2021, an intruder with a crossbow was arrested after attempting to enter the castle grounds.

By Aghakazim Guliyev