Prince Andrew was mistaken for an intruder at Buckingham Palace during evening stroll
Prince Andrew's garden walk was interrupted by two suspicious police officers
Prince Andrew was mistaken for an intruder during an evening stroll at Buckingham Palace, resurfaced reports have revealed.
- Prince Andrew was stopped by police at Buckingham Palace during an evening stroll, resurfaced reports have revealed.
- The Duke of York was walking by himself in the Queen's gardens when two Metropolitan Police officers mistook him for an intruder.
- In other royal news, Princess Eugenie's adorably awkward comment on wedding day revealed by lip-reader.
Prince Andrew may be embroiled in a serious legal battle today, but it looks like his run-ins with the law are nothing new.
The Duke of York drew suspicion from police during a walk in the grounds of Buckingham Palace almost ten years ago, according to resurfaced articles.
Prince Andrew was stopped by two uniformed officers on a September evening in 2013 after they momentarily mistook the second youngest of the Queen's children as an intruder. The awkward moment, which was quickly splashed across the British tabloids, occurred just two days after a man was arrested on suspicion of breaking into the iconic royal residence.
It's understood that the Duke was briefly questioned by a pair of Metropolitan Police officers, who seemingly failed to recognize his identity upon apprehending him. The London police force later confirmed the incident had happened and apologized for the embarrassing error.
It was initially reported that Prince Andrew, who has an apartment at Buckingham Palace, was left "absolutely livid" by the confusion. One writer even claimed that the police had pulled their weapons on the Duke and ordered him to "put your hands up and get on the ground."
This dramatic account was denied by the Met, however, who insisted that “no weapons were drawn and no force was used" during the confrontation.
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Prince Andrew didn't seem too bothered by the mix-up either, issuing a statement in which he publicly forgave the Met's mistake.
"The police have a difficult job to do balancing security for the Royal Family and deterring intruders, and sometimes they get it wrong," he said. "I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future."
It looks like Prince Andrew's relationship with law enforcement could be about to get a whole lot more serious though, as the 61-year-old prepares for the possibility of a US civil trial later this year.
The Duke has been accused by Virginia Giuffre, one of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, of committing 'sexual assault and battery' against her when she was a minor. The disgraced heir has since been forced to step back from public life, as the Royal Family grapples to protect its reputation ahead of the highly anticipated Platinum Jubilee.
Last Thursday, the Queen stripped Prince Andrew of his military honors and HRH title and confirmed that he will be defending himself as a private citizen. His Youtube and Twitter accounts have also been deleted, while his Instagram profile has been set to private.
It's understood that the Duke, who vehemently denies all allegations, is currently working with his lawyers at the Royal Lodge on the high-profile case.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
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