The Metropolitan Police is investigating a number of officers responsible for guarding the Royal Family at Windsor Castle after allegations that they fell asleep on duty and left their posts unattended. The force said its directorate of professional standards has launched an urgent inquiry into the conduct of officers on protective duties at the castle in Berkshire.
The police said the alleged behaviour falls below the high standards expected of officers, particularly in frontline protective roles. It is a blunt assessment from the force at a moment when the security of Windsor Castle is under fresh scrutiny, because the officers under investigation were assigned to safeguard the Royal Family at one of the monarchy's most closely watched homes.
The Metropolitan Police said the case will be handled locally and that the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed. The directorate of professional standards is also assessing whether those under investigation should be placed on restricted duties, with a decision expected before the end of next week.
That timetable matters because it will determine how quickly the force moves from allegations to operational restrictions for a number of officers already under urgent review. The allegations themselves have not been detailed publicly, but they strike at the centre of the responsibility that comes with protective policing: staying alert when the people being guarded are relying on you to do the same.
For the Metropolitan Police, the immediate question is not only what happened on duty at Windsor Castle, but how it will respond if the inquiry confirms that officers abandoned their posts while tasked with protecting the Royal Family. The force has already signalled that the standards expected in such roles leave little room for error.
