Representatives of the British royal family are unlikely to check every door before going to bed, as this task is handled by their extensive security and service staff. However, status does not always protect from unpleasant situations. It was revealed today that two masked men infiltrated the grounds of Windsor Castle while Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their children were sleeping at their residence, Adelaide Cottage.
The criminals stole a pickup truck and an ATV from a barn on the Shaw Farm, located within the Crown’s private estate. Sources claim the operation was planned in advance. The bandits had been monitoring Windsor Castle for some time. The first alert about the break-in came only after they breached the farm’s gates.
An insider revealed how the criminals acted: “It was a Sunday evening, and the Wales children were probably already asleep in their rooms. The thieves knew that this part of the grounds was less well guarded. It’s hard to believe something like this could happen so close to the royal family’s residence.”
At the time of the break-in, neither King Charles III, who was in Scotland, nor Queen Consort Camilla, who was traveling in India, were at the castle. The gates through which the criminals exited are frequently used by William, Catherine, and their children for trips.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the breach of the residence’s grounds. “At 11:45 PM, we received a report of a break-in at a Crown estate building near the A308 road in Windsor. The criminals stole a black Isuzu pickup and a red ATV, fleeing toward Old Windsor or Datchet. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.”
This incident is one of several recent security breaches in Windsor. Among the past incidents was the 2021 intrusion of a man with a crossbow, who claimed he intended to kill the Queen. The intruder, Jaswant Singh Chail, was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Prince William and Kate Middleton moved to Adelaide Cottage in the summer of 2022, choosing the home for its seclusion and the fact that no additional security or renovation work was required. Unlike Frogmore Cottage, which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invested £2.6 million (330 million rubles) into, Adelaide Cottage was ready for immediate occupancy and preserved its original architectural features, such as the elegant fireplace and a ceiling decorated with golden dolphins.
