An intruder broke into Kensington Palace twice in the days before Christmas, it has emerged.
A person was allegedly seen climbing over a fence with a “heavy rucksack” and was detained by Metropolitan Police officers in the palace gardens on December 21 and December 23, The Sun reported. Derek Egan, 39, has been charged with two offences of trespassing and is being held in custody.
The Prince and Princess of Wales use a wing of the palace as their London residence but are not thought to have been there at the time of the alleged break-ins. It is understood that they were staying at Anmer Hall, their private country home on the Sandringham estate.
Egan was bailed after the incident. He was due to appear at Bromley magistrates’ court on Christmas Eve but declined to leave a prison van and was remanded in custody, according to the newspaper.
Appearing at Westminster magistrates’ court on Tuesday, he admitted the charges. Judge Sam Goozee said that he could not proceed without the consent of Lord Hermer, the attorney-general, which would be needed for security reasons.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Egan had been charged with trespassing on a protected site and breaching bail conditions.
The Metropolitan Police said: “The charges relate to incidents on Sunday December 21 and Tuesday December 23 when Egan was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site in Palace Green, Kensington.”
A hearing has been set for January 6, when Egan’s pleas will be confirmed. It will take place in his absence “in view of his disorderly behaviour to officers of the court and the court itself”, the judge said. He added: “I am not granting him bail on the basis that if he is convicted, there is a real possibility he will receive a custodial sentence.”
Prince William and other members of the royal family attend the Christmas Day service in Sandringham, Norfolk
JON SUPER/AP
The Crown Prosecution Service told the newspaper: “The charges need the attorney-general’s consent because of national security concerns, but in this case security concerns against the royal family. The attorney-general needs to consider any further security risks before granting consent to prosecute.”
It is understood that the intruder did not enter the main building and was detained on the public side of the palace near the entrance to Hyde Park after being seen on security cameras. Palace sources did not confirm whether any members of the royal family were at the palace at the time.