An intruder was allegedly apprehended after twice gaining entry to Kensington Palace in London, in incidents a policing expert claimed were a ‘serious cause for concern’
An intruder allegedly broke into the Prince and Princess of Wales’ property twice while wearing a “heavy rucksack” as they prepared for Christmas. He is said to have vaulted into their official residence as the royals prepared for Christmas.
The suspect was allegedly seen hauling the rucksack as he climbed over a fence into their royal residence of Kensington Palace, in west London, two days before Christmas last year.
Derek Egan, 39, has been charged following the alleged incident. The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was able to gain access to the property’s gardens but was apprehended both times by specialist royal protection officers from the Met.
The reported incidents were branded a “serious cause for concern”, with the intruder managing to gain entry twice despite having been initially bailed by police. Police said Egan was charged with two counts of trespassing following the repeated alleged incidents on December 21 and 23.
A spokesperson for the force said: “On Tuesday, 23 December, 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 Wednesday, 24 December.
“The charges relate to incidents on Sunday, 21 December and Tuesday, 23 December when Egan was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site in Palace Green, Kensington.”
Experts have called for a major investigation after the latest royal intrusion – which took place as the royals and their staff prepared for Christmas. Dai Davies, the former head of the Met Police’s Royal and Specialist Protection branch, said the nature of the offending gives “serious cause for concern”.
He added the police must now work out what level of danger the Royal Family was said to have been in at the time. He told The Sun: “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 Prince and Princess of Wales, who live permanently in Windsor, Berkshire, are not believed to have been living in Kensington Palace at the time. But they were reportedly spending the days preceding the alleged dual incidents in London while preparing for the Royal Family’s traditional Sandringham Christmas.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.