Fake priest claimed to know Prince Harry

Impostor spent night at Coldstream Guards barracks in Windsor after bluffing his way in

A fake priest who caused a security alert at the Coldstream Guards’ Windsor barracks had earlier tried to obtain a free meal at a pub by claiming to be an American friend of Prince Harry. The Coldstream Guards have launched two inquiries after the man, who was wearing a vicar’s dog collar, bluffed his way into Victoria Barracks and spent the night being wined and dined in the officers’ mess. The blunder has prompted major security concerns.

A FAKE priest who caused a security alert at the Coldstream Guards’ Windsor barracks had earlier tried to procure a free meal at a pub by claiming to be an American friend of Prince Harry, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

The Coldstream Guards have launched two inquiries after the man, who was wearing a vicar’s dog collar, bluffed his way into Victoria Barracks and spent the night being wined and dined in the officers’ mess. The blunder has prompted major security concerns, coming just weeks before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are due to take place.

The incident occurred last week when the man presented himself to the guards on duty at the barracks close to Windsor Castle, claiming to have a meeting with another military chaplain.

He was allowed inside where he reportedly began regaling soldiers with a series of increasingly tall tales, prompting suspicion about his genuine identity.

Despite this, he was invited to spend the night in the barracks and was provided with a meal and drinks in the officers’ mess.

The following morning Thames Valley Police (TVP) were contacted and he was escorted from the base. But The Telegraph can disclose that while soldiers who guard the Queen were initially taken in by his fake persona, a local pub landlord was not, turning him away when he tried to claim a free meal by saying he was a personal friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The manager of the Prince Harry pub in Windsor said the man had been hanging around the town for several days before the incident at the barracks.

He said: “He came in here on Monday morning at around 11.30 saying he was a priest and had a collar on. He had two cups of tea and a fish and chips.

“He said ‘Prince Harry is a friend of mine and when I was here last year, I had to go back to the States to sort stuff out and Prince Harry and Princess Markle said whenever I was in Windsor, I could come into the Prince Harry pub and have lunch and they’ll sort it out’. Needless to say, I just said no.”

“I knew it was a con, so I wasn’t that interested and when I saw the news earlier I just started laughing.

“I think he was just out to see what he could get.”

George Ghanem, 55, the manager of Maison Meejana – a Lebanese restaurant near Windsor Castle – said he had also seen the man in the days before the incident at the barracks.

He said: “He had an American accent and came to eat here twice last week.

“I had a long conversation with him and he said he worked at the next-door church, but I’d never seen him before.

“The first time I gave him coffee on the house.

“He wasn’t wearing any robes – he had a black suit, black jumper and he had his collar on. He seemed a very respectable guy – we did not think there was anything wrong with him at all.”

Mr Ghanem added: “He was so tired, he fell asleep on the bar at 1pm. He looked fit, slim – a presentable guy with black hair.”

On Tuesday last week the man approached Victoria Barracks – which is home to about 500 officers and men – and claimed to have an appointment with the base’s padre.

He was allowed inside and began telling some of the officers and men that he had trained as an ejector seat pilot and had been awarded a medal for his service in Iraq.

He also claimed to have been the recipient of transplant organs that were resistant to G-forces. After giving him a bed for the night, staff at the base contacted the police, who attended but did not arrest the man.

Sources said despite his American accent, he was in fact known to local officers and had mental health issues.

Chief Supt Sarah Grahame said: “We received a report of an outsider at Victoria Barracks.

“Officers attended and spoke with all relevant parties.

“The man’s identity was confirmed and subsequently no offences were disclosed or identified.

“No arrests were made and TVP continue to work with all partners to ensure the safety and security of the public and local residents.”

The Army has launched two inquiries including an investigation which will be led by a senior Coldstream Guards officer.