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Queen 'nearly shot' by Buckingham Palace guard while walking late at night | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
It is one of the perks of being a member of the archaic hereditary UK monarchy that you have armed guards watching over you at all hours. | It is one of the perks of being a member of the archaic hereditary UK monarchy that you have armed guards watching over you at all hours. |
But that apparently almost backfired for the Queen when she decided to take a late-night walk around the palace grounds and came close to being shot. | But that apparently almost backfired for the Queen when she decided to take a late-night walk around the palace grounds and came close to being shot. |
From time to time her majesty is said to struggle to sleep. During a spell of insomnia, the 90-year-old will occasionally put on her coat and go for a short stroll, an ex-guardsman told The Times. | From time to time her majesty is said to struggle to sleep. During a spell of insomnia, the 90-year-old will occasionally put on her coat and go for a short stroll, an ex-guardsman told The Times. |
Late one night, he said he was patrolling inside the perimeter of the Palace walls when he spotted a figure in the darkness. | Late one night, he said he was patrolling inside the perimeter of the Palace walls when he spotted a figure in the darkness. |
Thinking that he had caught a potentially dangerous intruder, sneaking into the Royal residence at 3am, he shouted: “Who’s that?” | Thinking that he had caught a potentially dangerous intruder, sneaking into the Royal residence at 3am, he shouted: “Who’s that?” |
But to his surprise, it was actually the Queen. | But to his surprise, it was actually the Queen. |
“Bloody hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you,” he is reported to have said, on impulse. | “Bloody hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you,” he is reported to have said, on impulse. |
Perhaps realising this wasn't the tone to be used when addressing the Queen, he told The Times he expected a telling off. But the Queen reportedly took responsibility for putting him in such an awkward position. | Perhaps realising this wasn't the tone to be used when addressing the Queen, he told The Times he expected a telling off. But the Queen reportedly took responsibility for putting him in such an awkward position. |
“That’s quite all right,” she replied. “Next time I’ll ring through beforehand so you don’t have to shoot me.” | “That’s quite all right,” she replied. “Next time I’ll ring through beforehand so you don’t have to shoot me.” |
It is believed the encounter happened at the Queen’s normal weekday residence, Buckingham Palace. | It is believed the encounter happened at the Queen’s normal weekday residence, Buckingham Palace. |
In 2013, Prince Andrew was also mistaken for an intruder and confronted by armed police as he walked in the vast gardens. | In 2013, Prince Andrew was also mistaken for an intruder and confronted by armed police as he walked in the vast gardens. |
Police said no weapons were drawn but issued an apology to the prince, despite the palace having been subject to several real security breaches in recent years. | Police said no weapons were drawn but issued an apology to the prince, despite the palace having been subject to several real security breaches in recent years. |
In August, a 22-year-old man was arrested just after 4am after climbing over a security fence. He was spotted by officers monitoring CCTV. | In August, a 22-year-old man was arrested just after 4am after climbing over a security fence. He was spotted by officers monitoring CCTV. |
In May, Denis Hennessy, 41, climbed over barbed wire and roamed the palace grounds for about 10 minutes while The Queen, Prince Philip, and Prince Andrew were in residence. | In May, Denis Hennessy, 41, climbed over barbed wire and roamed the palace grounds for about 10 minutes while The Queen, Prince Philip, and Prince Andrew were in residence. |
When he was found by officers he repeatedly asked them: “Is Ma’am in?” | When he was found by officers he repeatedly asked them: “Is Ma’am in?” |
Before that, in 2013, a man scaled the perimeter fence and was found at around 10pm actually inside the building, in one of the State Rooms. None of the royals were home at the time. | Before that, in 2013, a man scaled the perimeter fence and was found at around 10pm actually inside the building, in one of the State Rooms. None of the royals were home at the time. |
The news of the near-shooting comes at a time when the public is particularly tuned into the Queen’s wellbeing. The elderly monarch was not seen for a fortnight over the Christmas period due to poor health. | The news of the near-shooting comes at a time when the public is particularly tuned into the Queen’s wellbeing. The elderly monarch was not seen for a fortnight over the Christmas period due to poor health. |
She missed a New Year's Day church service at Sandringham because of a lingering heavy cold, and just a week before that she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were forced to delay their journey from Buckingham Palace to their Norfolk estate after she fell ill. | She missed a New Year's Day church service at Sandringham because of a lingering heavy cold, and just a week before that she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were forced to delay their journey from Buckingham Palace to their Norfolk estate after she fell ill. |