Royal Protection Officers Barred from Palaces Following Misogynistic Behaviour Allegations
Five armed police officers have been prohibited from working at royal residences after a female staff member at Kensington Palace lodged a complaint regarding their alleged misogynistic behaviour. The staffer reported a series of “inappropriate” comments made by the officers, leading to a formal investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
One of the officers, reportedly frustrated with the environment at Kensington Palace – the official London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales – is said to have commented that the palace was “full of little Hitlers.” This remark was allegedly made when the officer was asked to move his equipment.
The Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) unit launched an inquiry into the allegations. While the investigation concluded that the officers needed to learn from their actions, their conduct was ultimately not deemed to have met the threshold for formal misconduct.
Despite this finding, senior Royal Household staff have made the decisive move to revoke the officers’ security passes. This action effectively bans them from accessing any royal palaces in the future. It is understood that Prince William and Kate Middleton were informed of the decision but were not directly involved in its making.
The initial complaint was reportedly filed in October 2024. The female staff member alleged that between August 2023 and September 2024, members of the RaSP unit made several comments that she found inappropriate.
Beyond the “little Hitlers” comment, another alleged incident involved an officer sending a Facebook friend request to a female employee at the palace. A source speaking to The Sun described the comments as “perceived as misogynistic,” though they emphasised that the allegations were “tame and none were sexual in nature.”
Even though the Metropolitan Police cleared the officers of misconduct and indicated they could return to their duties, the decision was made by Royal Household staff that their presence at the palaces was no longer tenable. The officers are now understood to be undertaking other armed duties elsewhere within the Met.
The situation has drawn commentary from former police officials. Dai Davies, the former head of Met royalty protection operations, expressed surprise at the number of complaints, suggesting it raised questions about a potential “culture of misogyny” within the unit.
Mick Neville, a former detective chief inspector, commented on the evolving workplace environment. “A few years ago, banter and silly comments were acceptable in many work environments, including the police,” he noted. “But I am not surprised to find that royalty protection officers at Kensington Palace found themselves in hot water for remarks which offended one of the staff.”
This incident is not the first time armed police assigned to royal households have faced scrutiny. Earlier this month, an investigation was initiated into claims that armed police at Windsor Castle had been found sleeping on duty.
Reports indicate that up to 30 staff members within the Metropolitan Police’s RaSP squad are currently under investigation for misconduct. These allegations include officers signing in for duty but failing to report to their posts.
This probe follows a series of recent security breaches at the expansive Windsor Castle estate, a location that frequently hosts significant official events and serves as a residence for members of the Royal Family.
In June of last year, a man in his thirties was apprehended on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site and possessing Class A drugs after gaining access to the grounds of Windsor Castle. He was later released on bail.
More alarmingly, in October 2024, masked intruders managed to breach a security barrier and scale the perimeter fence of Windsor Castle. This occurred in close proximity to where Prince William and Princess Kate were residing with their children. The two men reportedly used a stolen truck to force their way through a security gate before absconding with farm vehicles, making their escape in a pick-up truck and on a quad bike stolen from a barn on Shaw Farm.
The Metropolitan Police and Kensington Palace have been approached for comment regarding these ongoing matters. The incidents underscore the significant security challenges faced by royal residences and the importance of maintaining the highest standards of conduct among those tasked with their protection. The repercussions for the RaSP unit, and indeed the wider Met, are likely to be significant as these investigations unfold. The focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of the Royal Family and their residences, while also upholding a respectful and professional working environment for all staff.
