Fresh claims from an insider have shed light on the emotional toll Princess Kate Middleton is said to have endured following a “deeply unsettling” security breach at Kensington Palace late last year.
In December, reports sent shockwaves through the press after it emerged that an intruder had managed to gain access to the grounds of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Kensington Palace residence on two separate occasions. The incident, which occurred just weeks before Christmas, is now said to have left Princess Kate upset.
Unsurprisingly, the experience is described as having shaken her sense of security at a very personal level.
Princess Kate Middleton ‘deeply unsettled’ by palace intrusion
A source told Closer that the incident went far beyond a fleeting scare. “This wasn’t a minor incident – it was deeply unsettling. When someone breaches the place you call home, it hits you in the stomach and suddenly everything feels exposed,” they said.
The insider continued: “It left them shaken in ways people don’t see. It meant lying awake at night, replaying every ‘what if’ over and over. Kate was in tears. She finds this side of royal life unbearable, and the thought that the children could be at risk genuinely terrifies her. Still, Kate is strong and is doing her best to move forward. She’s told William she didn’t sign up for their family to live in fear.”
Kate was in tears.
On December 21 and 23, just days before Christmas, Derek Egan allegedly climbed over a fence at Kensington Palace. He was reportedly carrying a “heavy rucksack” and was later arrested in the palace gardens by officers from the Met Police Royal and Specialist Protection Command.
The 39-year-old remains in custody and has been charged with two counts of trespassing.
The Wales family’s London base
While the Prince and Princess of Wales relocated to Forest Lodge in Windsor last autumn, Kensington Palace’s Apartment 1A continues to serve as their London residence.
At the time of the intrusions, the family were not in London, instead spending the festive period at Anmer Hall in Norfolk. However, they had been staying at Kensington Palace shortly before the incidents occurred.
It is not the first time the couple have faced a security scare. In October 2024, two masked intruders reportedly crashed through a gate and climbed a six-foot fence at Windsor Castle while the Wales family were staying nearby at Adelaide Cottage.
Repeated intrusions on royal property
In June 2025, another individual was apprehended on the grounds of the Berkshire estate and arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a secure site, as well as possession of class A drugs.
Despite increased precautions around Forest Lodge, including cordoning off the surrounding area, the couple are said to resent the level of planning and restriction now required. According to the insider, such measures have made everyday activities like walking the dog or doing the school run feel overly “controlled”.
William and Kate ‘didn’t want’ intensified security
“They both despise the checkpoints, the constant planning, and the sense of being trapped. It leaves them feeling angry and sad in equal measure,” the source claimed. “Nothing feels spontaneous anymore. Even family time comes with risk assessments. It’s exhausting – and it’s the part of royal life they struggle with the most.”
Addressing the public restriction around Forest Lodge, the insider added: “They didn’t want to do it. William hates shutting people out. And Kate hates the feeling of isolation. But when it comes to the children, there’s no debate. Their safety comes first.”
Reps for Kensington Palace have been contacted for comment.
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