Prince Andrew’s security were so ‘terrified’ of quizzing him on female guests an intruder was let in
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Prince Andrew’s security staff ‘were so terrified of him that they let a Spanish woman posing as his betrothed into the grounds of the Royal Lodge because they didn’t want to upset him by asking if he was expecting guests’
- Protection expert Philip Grindell said staff were ‘terrified’ to question guests
- An intruder posing as Prince Andrew’s fiancée was reportedly let in
- The Hispanic woman, in her 40s, was later segmented under the Mental Health Act
- Mr Grindell said the staff didn’t want to upset the Prince by asking him about her
- Former security guard Paul Page also said he had had similar experiences
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Security personnel in Windsor reportedly let an intruder pretending to be Prince Andrew’s fiancée into the Royal Lodge because they were ‘terrified’ to check on him.
Security expert Philip Grindell claims that security personnel didn’t want to “disturb” the Duke of York and were “terrified to ask him ‘will someone show up?'”
The offender, a Spanish woman in her forties, is said to have lured her way in by saying that her name was Irene Windsor, the Prince’s betrothed, and that she was there on a date with him, the Daily Express reported.
Speaking at the annual International Security Expo, held at Kensington Olympia, Mr Grindell said Andrew was a “pain in the a***” and an “unpleasant character” to anyone who had worked with him.
Referring to the intruder, Mr Grindell said that because the staff didn’t want to upset the Duke of York by asking if he was expecting guests, no one questioned the woman, believed her story, and let her through the gate.
Security expert Philip Grindell claims that security personnel didn’t want to ‘disturb’ the Duke of York and were ‘terrified to ask him ‘is anyone showing up?’
Security staff in Windsor let an intruder pretending to be Prince Andrew’s fiancée into the Royal Lodge (pictured) because they were ‘terrified’ to check on him
Former Royal Protection Officer Paul Page, who also spoke at the expo, said that when he learned that the staff were “terrified,” it became clear to him that they were in the same position they were with the Prince 20 years ago, where he ‘was too afraid to question unidentified female visitors’, as the Duke of York would end up ‘abusing’ us to do so.
The offender was allowed to enter the Royal Lodge without identification last November and the staff even paid for her taxi, it is alleged.
The woman took a walk around the grounds before entering the main building and asked where to find Prince Andrew, who was home at the time, according to the Express.
Another staff member saw her and alerted the police and maps of the royal box and other royal residences were found in her bag, as well as a sharp self-defense key.
Speaking at the annual International Security Expo, held at Kensington Olympia, Mr Grindell (pictured) said Andrew was a ‘pain in the a***’ and an ‘unpleasant character’ to anyone who had worked with him.
She was arrested on suspicion of burglary and later classified under the Mental Health Act.
Thames Valley police said she was released without charge.
Mr. Grindell, who founded the security firm Defuse for VIPs and celebrities, spent 30 years for the Metropolitan Police as a specialist detective and in counter-terrorism security for high profile events such as royal and military.
Prince Andrew’s security was reduced in 2020 following his withdrawal from royal duties as a result of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Privy Purse funds the private security of the Royal Lodge.
A PR spokesman for Prince Andrew declined to comment.