Hampshire Incidents

Bringing you breaking news from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Armed man from Southampton arrested in grounds of Windsor Castle

An armed man from Southampton has been arrested in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon.

 

Officers from Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police responded to a security breach at around 8.30am within the grounds of the castle in Berkshire where the Queen is in residence.

 

The man, who is in custody, was not in any buildings on the estate and ‘security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds’, police said.

 

The Queen was spending Christmas Day at Windsor Castle and was expected to have lunch with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

 

TVP Superintendent Rebecca Mears said: ‘An investigation is ongoing following this incident and we are working with colleagues from the Metropolitan police.

 

‘The man has been arrested on suspicion of breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon.

‘He remains in custody at this time.

‘We can confirm security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds and he did not enter any buildings.