The Met Police has launched an urgent investigation after concerns were raised about the conduct of officers on protective duties at Windsor Castle, with allegations that some left posts unattended and slept while on duty.
The force said its Directorate of Professional Standards opened the inquiry after the concerns surfaced, and that the alleged behaviour falls below the high standards expected of officers in frontline protective roles. More than 23 officers have been served with misconduct notices, more than 21 have been placed on restricted duties, and two more will not be deployed to any royal residence while the investigation continues. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed.
What began as a probe focused on Windsor Castle has now widened to Buckingham Palace and other royal locations, as enquiries continue into the conduct of officers on protective duties elsewhere. The Metropolitan Police said the matter will be investigated locally by the force, even as the scope of the review keeps growing.
That expansion matters because the number of officers already caught up in the process suggests this is not a narrow disciplinary case. A source cited by The Sun said “the probe is widening and is now looking at RaSP officers working at Buckingham Palace and other Royal locations. There are concerns that the slapdash practices at Windsor are widespread and happening at other royal palaces.”
The investigation comes after earlier scrutiny of security at Windsor Castle, where royal protection duties are now under fresh pressure. The same security operation has also featured in public moments at the castle, including when Prince William presented darts star Luke Littler with an honour there, but the latest inquiry has shifted attention from ceremony to conduct. For now, the Met says the investigation remains ongoing, and the central question is not whether the review will continue, but how widely its findings will reach across royal residences.
