A man allegedly carrying a heavy rucksack twice broke into the grounds of Kensington Palace in the days before Christmas, in a security breach that has prompted alarm among protection experts.
Repeated Breaches at Royal Residence
Derek Egan, 39, from Hillingdon, is said to have scaled a fence to enter the palace gardens on Sunday, 21 December, and again on Tuesday, 23 December. The Prince and Princess of Wales, who were reportedly in London in the lead-up to the festive period, use Kensington Palace as their official London residence, though they are now based permanently in Windsor.
On both occasions, the intruder was apprehended by specialist royal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police. Despite being arrested and bailed after the first incident, Egan allegedly returned to commit the same offence just two days later.
Charges and Expert Alarm
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Egan was subsequently charged with two counts of trespassing on a protected site and breaching his bail conditions. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 24 December and was remanded in custody.
The repeated nature of the intrusion has caused significant concern. Dai Davies, the former head of the Met Police’s Royal and Specialist Protection branch, branded the incidents a serious cause for concern.
"The fact he repeated the offending after being given bail, given the nature of it, gives serious cause for concern," Davies told The Sun. "The police must work out what level of danger the Royal Family were in, and based on the charges, why on Earth he was given bail?"
History of Royal Security Breaches
This event is the latest in a series of security breaches at royal properties. In a notably serious previous case, Jaswant Singh Chail was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2023 for treason after attempting to enter Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 with a crossbow, while the late Queen Elizabeth II was in residence.
Chail's trial heard that his actions were influenced by an AI chatbot and Star Wars narratives, and a judge stated his clear intention was to kill the monarch. This precedent underscores the potential gravity of such intrusions and the constant vigilance required by royal protection teams.
The recent breaches at Kensington Palace are now likely to trigger a thorough review of perimeter security and bail protocols for individuals apprehended near protected royal sites.
