Officials at Buckingham Palace are promising to follow a “robust disciplinary process” after a staffer — reported to be a housemaid — was arrested at a Christmas party.
The woman is alleged to have tried to assault a member of bar staff and broken a glass at a pub near the palace on Tuesday, Dec. 10, police said.
She was among a group of about 50 royal staffers who were at All Bar One, in Victoria Street, London for a planned gathering after a Christmas drinks party at the palace.
“I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level,” a witness told The Sun, which was the first to report the news.
The Metropolitan Police would not confirm the identity or profession of the person arrested but said in a statement that “officers were called to a bar in Victoria Street, SW1 following reports that a customer had smashed glasses and attempted to assault a member of staff.”
Christmas preparations under way at one of the royals residences, Windsor Castle, in late November, 2024.
Peter Nicholls/Getty
“Officers attended and arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.”
“She was taken into custody and released the following evening having been given a penalty notice for disorder.”
A Palace spokesperson said on Friday, Dec. 13, “We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace.”
Buckingham Palace and its lawns in central London. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
“While this was an informal social gathering, not an official Palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.”
King Charles is expected to host his own party for the extended royal family in the coming days, before the family heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk for the holidays.
