Masked thieves reportedly broke into the grounds Windsor Castle and stole two vehicles while Prince William, Princess Kate and their three children were believed to be sleeping at home in their nearby Adelaide Cottage last month, the Sun reports.
The two suspects reportedly used a stolen truck to smash through a security gate and scaled a 6-foot fence to steal farm vehicles during the incident on October 13, which was first reported on Sunday (November 17).
“They must have been watching Windsor Castle for a while," a source told the Sun.
The thieves drove off in a pick-up truck and a quad bike stored in a barn at the facility. King Charles and Queen Camilla weren't present at Windsor Castle during the night of the robbery.
“They would have to have known the vehicles were stored there before they broke in and known when was the best time to get and escape without being caught," a source told the Sun. “So they must have been watching Windsor Castle for a while. There are alarms at Windsor Castle but the first time anyone knew there was a break-in was when they crashed through the security barrier at Shaw Farm Gate exit.
“The barrier has needed to be replaced as it was so badly damaged. It was a Sunday night on a school week so the young princes and princess would have been tucked in bed at Adelaide Cottage, just around the corner but still in the grounds.”
Prince William and Princess Kate moved to the nearby Adelaide Cottage in the summer of 2022. The royals had previously decided to remove armed police from the main entrance gate due to a shortage of qualified officers and to ease tourists. Armed police are present at the front of the caste when Changing of the Guard ceremonies are held.