Queen Elizabeth ‘nearly shot’ by bodyguard

In this unusual incident, which occurred several years ago, the queen’s security almost shot her after misidentifying her as an intruder. 

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, was almost shot by a member of her palace security while taking a late-night stroll without informing the guards, media outlets reported Thursday.

A former guard at London’s Buckingham Palace recounted the unusual event to The Times Diary, in which the Queen was mistaken for an intruder – and the guardsman “nearly shot” her.

According to the undated story, one night, at around 3 a.m., the Queen was strolling in the palace garden when the guard on patrol spotted an unidentified figure moving in the dark.

Suspecting an intruder, he shouted, “Who’s that?”

“Bloody hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you,” the surprised guard blurted out after the queen emerged from shadows.

He then expected an immediate chastisement for his brash response, but the queen instead replied calmly, “That’s quite all right. Next time I’ll ring through beforehand so you don’t have to shoot me,” the Times Diary wrote.

Queen Elizabeth II is said to enjoy late-night walks. When she struggles to fall sleep, she reportedly strolls around the palace grounds, wearing a winter coat.

The queen is not the first royal to be mistaken for an intruder. In 2013, Prince Andrew was confronted by armed police while walking in the palace gardens.

Intruders have in fact made their way onto the royal premises, so guards do have cause for alarm.

In August 2016, a 22-year-old man was arrested just after 4 a.m. for climbing over a security fence before he was spotted by officers.

In May 2016, 41-year-old David Hennessy climbed over barbed wire and roamed freely in the palace grounds for 10 minutes while Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew, were inside. He later asked officers, “Is Ma’am in?”

By: World Israel News Staff