Queen ‘concerned’ over shake-up of royal protection officers

THE QUEEN has expressed concern about a shake-up in her security detail that means her protection officers are regularly rotated, it has been claimed.

Scotland Yard has implemented a policy that provides protection to the Royal family on a pool basis, meaning backup officers are sometimes assigned to government ministers and sometimes to royalty. A senior source told the Evening Standard: “Her Majesty is not the only one who has expressed concerns.

“A number of senior officers are not happy either. Personal protection is all about building a relationship with the principal. How on earth is that supposed to happen if the officers are rotated every five minutes with new faces?”

Ken Wharfe, who was a personal protection officer for Diana, Princess of Wales, said: “The security will be less effective. Understanding the behaviours of the person you are charged with protecting is crucial.

“Understanding the machinations of the Royal household is very important too. If you are from a pool, one minute looking after a Cabinet minister and

‘A number of senior officers are not happy. Personal protection is about building a relationship’

the next a member of the Royal family, how are you able to build up that rapport with the principal? It doesn’t make sense. No wonder Her Majesty has privately expressed her disquiet.”

The change was implemented in 2015 due to restructuring of pay and the formation of a merged Scotland Yard team that guards both royals and ministers called Royalty and Specialist Protection, under Protection Command. The bigger team of pooled officers is said to have been introduced to reduce huge overtime bills from royalty officers.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We never comment on anonymously sourced reports claiming to represent The Queen’s private views. Security is a matter for the police.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman added: “The process for appointing personal protection officers has not changed [and] their roles ... remain unaltered. We do not recognise the commentary from the anonymous source.” ♦ A Buckingham Palace intruder was arrested after clambering over a low perimeter fence and spending three minutes inside the private grounds, police said.

The 24-year-old allegedly attempted to climb a wall outside the Palace estate on Sunday night before being arrested on suspicion of trespass.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the incident was not being treated as terrorist related. The man was released on conditional bail until January.