Armed intruder apprehended on Windsor Castle grounds as queen celebrates Christmas

LONDON — British constabulary connected Saturday said that an equipped intruder was arrested connected Christmas greeting connected the grounds of Windsor Castle, the main residence of Queen Elizabeth II, wherever the British monarch was celebrating Christmas.

“The antheral has been arrested connected suspicion of breach oregon trespass of a protected tract and possession of an violative weapon. He remains successful custody astatine this time,” Thames Valley Police Superintendent Rebecca Mears said successful a statement. What limb helium had remained unclear.

The 19-year-old antheral was arrested aft helium was recovered entering the grounds of the castle astatine astir 8:30 a.m., constabulary said. He did not participate immoderate buildings.

“Members of the royal household person been informed astir the incident,” Mears said. “We bash not judge determination is simply a wider information to the public.”

A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying it was a substance for the police. .

Windsor has seen different information breeches this year. In May, a mates was arrested aft entering the grounds of the Windsor estate. The Times of London reported that they were recovered adjacent the spot wherever the queen walks her dogs.

The queen had been readying to big Christmas this twelvemonth astatine her Sandringham property successful Norfolk, England. But those plans were scrapped, for the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, pursuing a spike successful coronavirus infections. Confirmed regular cases deed a grounds precocious connected Saturday.

Instead, the queen spent Christmas Day astatine Windsor Castle, her main residence since the commencement of the pandemic successful 2020. She was joined by a tiny radical of household members, including her eldest son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla.

This was the queen’s archetypal Christmas since the decease of her husband, Prince Philip, successful April astatine property 99. The queen paid tribute to him successful her yearly Christmas Day speech, which was broadcast Saturday but recorded past week.

Referring to Philip, the queen said that determination was “one acquainted laughter missing this year.”