A police investigation into claims that royal protection officers fell asleep while guarding the King has widened beyond Windsor Castle to include Buckingham Palace and other royal residences, with 23 officers now served with misconduct notices in one of the most serious lapses in royal security in recent memory.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the expansion of its inquiry, which is being conducted by the force’s directorate of professional standards, after allegations first emerged a fortnight ago that officers had left their posts unattended and slept while on duty at Windsor Castle. Twenty-one of the 23 officers served with notices have been placed on restricted duties, while the remaining two, though not formally restricted, will not be deployed to any royal residence while the investigation continues.
“As part of the investigation, enquiries are being made as to the conduct of officers on protective duties at other royal residences,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed, adding that the matter remained ongoing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed and concluded the matter will be investigated locally by the Met. The Royal Household has been informed of the latest developments.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley had already set the tone when the allegations first surfaced, describing the alleged behaviour as falling “below the high standards expected of officers, particularly in frontline protective roles.” The widening of the probe suggests investigators believe the conduct may not have been confined to a single location or incident.
Being served with a misconduct notice means officers are under formal investigation but does not automatically trigger disciplinary proceedings. Each officer will be invited to submit a statement in response to the allegations. Investigators will then determine whether the behaviour amounts to misconduct or, more seriously, gross misconduct — a finding that could result in dismissal. It remains open to investigators to conclude there is no case to answer.
Royal protection officers at Windsor Castle perform a range of security functions, including controlling access to the sprawling Berkshire estate and conducting foot patrols around the castle, which serves as one of the King’s principal residences and is regularly used by other senior members of the Royal Family. The revelation of potential lapses in that security regime is particularly striking given the number of serious breaches the castle has experienced in recent years.
In June, a man in his thirties was arrested after intruding into the grounds of Windsor Castle, close to the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs. In October 2024, masked burglars used a stolen truck to smash through a security barrier and scale the estate fence before stealing farm vehicles and making off from the grounds.
