Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Home Targeted in Reported Break-In

An intruder broke into Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s Kensington Palace home not once, but twice, in one week.

The Times obtained a statement from the Metropolitan Police, which revealed that Derek Egan was charged with breaking into their residence twice in the week before Christmas. Kensington Palace is where the Prince and Princess of Wales live when in London.

“The charges relate to incidents on Sunday, December 21, and Tuesday, December 23, when Egan was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site in Palace Green, Kensington,” said a statement from a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, per The Times.

Egan was detained by police officers in the palace gardens on two separate occasions, on December 21 and December 23. He did not gain access to the primary residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were not at home at the time of the incidents.

Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

Egan was seen on security footage by palace guards, who detained him until police were called. He later admitted to trespassing on the grounds.

“The charges need the attorney-general’s consent because of national security concerns, but in this case, security concerns against the royal family. The attorney-general needs to consider any further security risks before granting consent to ­prosecute,” read a statement by the Crown Prosecution Service to The Times.

Kate, William, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were reportedly at Anmer Hall for the Christmas holidays. The home is located on King Charles‘ Sandringham Estate.

Is the royal family targeted for break-ins?

According to Us Weekly, the royal family has had a history of break-ins. The outlet noted that royal residences have been targeted multiple times over the years, fueling long-standing security concerns.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly had six security alerts at their Montecito, California, estate since moving there in 2020. In 2021, a man plotted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth with a crossbow in retaliation for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in India. He was caught on Windsor Castle’s grounds before his attempt on the queen’s life.

Perhaps the most famous break-in in royal family history occurred in 1982, when an intruder got inside Queen Elizabeth’s bedroom before being captured by palace guards. Biography reported Donald Fagan entered the monarch’s bedroom planning not to harm her, but himself, in front of her.

This infamous incident was dramatized by the Netflix series The Crown. It emphasized both Elizabeth’s and Fagan’s vulnerability, isolation, and the failure of the royal system to protect the monarch rather than suspense alone.

The current security incident has once again placed royal safety under scrutiny. It also highlights the ongoing challenges of protecting the family’s private lives amid constant public attention.