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The Irish Sun

Royal Family in security scare as drug-crazed intruder breaks into Windsor Castle yards away from Kate and Wills' home

A SECURITY scare was sparked off when a drug-crazed intruder broke into Windsor Castle. The man is said to have clambered over a wall to get into the grounds of the castle on Sunday lunchtime. Advertisement 7 Police at Windsor Castle on Sunday Credit: Simon Jones 7 A patrol car outside the grounds Credit: Simon Jones 7 Prince William and Princess Kate live at Adelaide Cottage Credit: Splash 7 He was quickly detained by cops from the Met Police Royal and Specialist Protection Command, who have responsibility for security within the castle. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs. He was taken into custody and extensive checks were carried out into his background. The suspect was handed over to Thames Valley Police, the local force who cover the area outside the castle's perimeter. Advertisement READ MORE NEWS He was later released on bail pending further investigations. A source said: 'The intruder is believed to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the break-in. 'He broke into the castle near Town Gate and was quickly detained by police. 'It was a crazy thing to do and caused quite a stir but at this stage it appears there was no intent to cause any serious harm.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun It is understood the Prince and Princess of Wales were staying at Adelaide Cottage, their home on the Windsor estate, that day with children George, Charlotte and Louis. But it is unclear whether William and Kate were there at the time of the break-in, which occurred some distance away from their home. Desperate Harry & Meghan jump from idea to idea, only William & Kate have true clout Royal aides and close protection officers were informed of the security breach as a matter of routine. Police stressed the intruder did not reach the inner part of the castle, where state apartments, St George's Chapel and the Inner Hall are situated. Advertisement A Met Police spokesperson said: 'A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs after entering restricted grounds at Windsor Castle. 'Officers in the grounds spotted the man just after 13:00hrs on Sunday, 1 June and quickly arrested him. 'He was then passed into the custody of Thames Valley Police.' A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police, said:'At just after 1pm on Sunday 1 June a man entered restricted grounds at Windsor castle. Advertisement 'He was quickly challenged by Met police officers and arrested. He did not enter the inner grounds of Windsor Castle. 'He was arrested on suspicion of trespass on a secure site and possession of class A drugs. 'He has been bailed and an investigation is ongoing by Thames Valley Police.' Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act of 2005, it is an offence to trespass on a designated protected site such as a nuclear plant or Royal estate . Advertisement In October last year The Sun revealed how armed police officers have been removed from the castle's main public entrances. But gun cops still patrol inside the castle and rising remote-controlled bollards have been put up at the nearby Henry VIII Gate to stop terrorist ram raiders. Security at Windsor remains tight following a number of scares and scandals. They include 'comedy terrorist' Aaron Barchak managing to gate crash Prince William's 21st birthday party inside the walls in 2003. Advertisement The Sun tested security on the eve of Prince Charles' 2005 wedding and drove a hired van in through Henry VIII gate with a cardboard box in the back marked 'BOMB'. Then In 2012 a drunk man scaled a gate at Windsor Castle and got to within 65 metres of the Queen's private apartments when he was tackled by armed royalty protection officers. And in 2021 a maniac was arrested at Windsor Castle in possession of a crossbow after making a video saying he was on a mission to 'assassinate the Queen.' Star Wars fanatic Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, was arrested while the late monarch stayed in the castle on Christmas Day 2021. Advertisement He was jailed for nine years and given an interim mental health order in October 2023 after being convicted of treason. The Old Bailey heard he was spurred on by his artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot "girlfriend" Sarai and inspired by storylines from the Star Wars franchise. 7 The intruder clambered over the wall Credit: Doug Seeburg 7 The suspect was quickly detained by cops Credit: Doug Seeburg Advertisement 7 Security at Windsor remains tight following a number of scares and scandals Credit: Simon Jones