Intruder Claiming to be 'The King' Arrested at St James's Palace
In a startling breach of royal security, an intruder who announced he was 'the King' has been handcuffed and placed into a police van after being caught roaming the grounds of St James's Palace in London. Andrew Parrott, 57, appeared unresponsive in bodycam footage as officers firmly reprimanded him for trespassing on the protected site, which serves as the London residence for several royals, including Princess Anne, Princess Alexandra, and Princess Beatrice.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
When initially questioned by police after being spotted on CCTV, Parrott responded that he was 'the King', as previously heard at Westminster Magistrates Court. A video of his arrest captures the intruder answering 'yeah' as an officer informs him he was seen on camera ringing doorbells, turning door handles, and attempting to gain entry to another part of the palace and the Queen's Chapel. After being told he would be taken into custody, Parrott simply replied: 'Alright', before being handcuffed and marched into a police van outside the historic palace built by Henry VIII.
The royal grounds, located in the City of Westminster near The Mall, are a designated protected site, and entering without permission is a criminal offence. Representing himself at magistrates' court last Thursday, Parrott, from Luton, admitted to trespass on a protected site on June 21, 2025, claiming he was unable to apply for legal aid in time.
Sentencing and Previous Convictions
During sentencing, District Judge Sam Goozee emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating: 'You need to understand trespassing on this site is a very serious offence. Protected sites are there to protect our national security, the government, and in this case, the royal family.' The judge pressed Parrott three times on why he sought access to the royal grounds, to which the 57-year-old explained he used to reside in a 'property of significant heritage' and had knocked on the palace door in the past out of 'curiosity'.
Parrott maintained it was a 'one-off incident' with 'no criminal intent', but Judge Goozee countered: 'It was criminal, your intention to find a door, meaning you were trying to gain access.' He expressed concern that curiosity was the only explanation provided. Noting Parrott was no longer homeless, the judge issued a 12-month suspended prison sentence and an £85 fine. Parrott has three previous convictions, including two counts of breaching a restraining order in 2023 and one count of harassment in 2022.
