The Metropolitan Police has investigated multiple officers within its Royalty and Specialist Protection command following allegations of misogyny and security lapses. While five officers were banned from royal residences after making inappropriate comments at Kensington Palace, over 20 others face restricted duties for allegedly sleeping while on duty at Windsor Castle.
Misogyny Allegations at Kensington Palace
A separate internal probe into the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection unit revealed a pattern of behavior that failed to meet professional standards at the London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. According to reporting from the Morning Star, a female staff member at Kensington Palace filed an official complaint in October 2024 regarding a series of inappropriate comments made between August 2023 and September 2024.
The investigation centered on five armed officers. While the Met Police eventually determined that the behavior did not meet the legal threshold for formal misconduct, the nature of the comments caused significant friction within the royal household.
“Comments from the officers were perceived as misogynistic though the allegations were tame and none were sexual in nature.”
Unnamed source, via Marie Claire
Despite the “tame” description, the breach of professional conduct was enough to trigger a permanent change in the security detail. Senior Royal Household staff took the decisive step of revoking the officers’ access passes, effectively banning them from working at any royal palace in the future.
Security Lapses and Restricted Duties at Windsor Castle
While the Kensington Palace issue dealt with behavioral conduct, a more alarming security failure emerged at Windsor Castle. As reported by Devdiscourse, the Metropolitan Police issued misconduct notices to 23 officers following reports of grave lapses in discipline.
The allegations involve officers who were caught napping and abandoning their assigned duty positions. In a role defined by high-stakes protection, these failures are viewed as critical vulnerabilities. Consequently, over 20 officers have been placed on restricted duties, meaning they are currently barred from deployment while the force extends its investigation to other royal residences.
The scrutiny is particularly acute given the strategic importance of Windsor Castle, which has hosted high-profile international figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. While the Met Police has acknowledged the lapse, Buckingham Palace has maintained silence on the matter.
The Met’s ‘Reflective Practice’ vs. Royal Household Bans
There is a stark contrast between how the Metropolitan Police handled the misconduct and how the Royal Household responded. The Met’s official disciplinary action for the officers involved in the misogyny probe was “reflective practice”—a process designed to help officers consider their actions and identify learning opportunities.
“The reported behaviour falls below the high standards expected of officers, particularly those in front-line protective roles. As a result of our internal investigation into this matter, the officers received reflective practice to consider their actions and identify learning for the future.”
Met Police spokesperson, via Cosmopolitan
However, the Cosmopolitan report indicates that the Royal Household viewed the situation with more severity. By revoking the security passes of the five officers, the household staff exercised a level of control that bypassed the police’s internal “reflective” approach, ensuring those officers would never return to the royal homes.
This disconnect suggests a tension between the police force’s internal disciplinary thresholds and the exacting standards required by the monarchy’s private staff.
The Waleses’ Role in the Security Fallout
Throughout these investigations, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have remained distanced from the disciplinary process. Reports indicate the couple is aware of both the misogyny investigation and the subsequent bans, but they had no direct involvement in the decision to remove the officers.
The turmoil coincides with a period of transition for the family. As noted by Marie Claire, the Prince and Princess of Wales recently moved their family from Adelaide Cottage in Windsor into a new residence, Forest Lodge. While they have relocated their primary family home, their apartment at Kensington Palace remains their official London residence.
The transition to Forest Lodge and the purging of problematic security personnel highlight a broader effort to stabilize the environment around the royal children. For the Met Police, the priority now is restoring trust. The force has stated that upholding the highest standards of professionalism remains a priority to build confidence with those they serve.
With 23 misconduct notices issued at Windsor and five officers banned from Kensington, the Royalty and Specialist Protection command is facing a crisis of discipline that extends from behavioral misconduct to fundamental failures in vigilance.