A Buckingham Palace household staff member has been arrested after a brawl broke out at an informal staff Christmas party.
According to The Sun, which was first to report the news on Friday, December 13, the staffer — said to be a housemaid — attempted to punch a manager at All Bar One in London’s Victoria Street, a short distance from Buckingham Palace, and smashed several glasses.
Around 50 staffers attended the Christmas party on Tuesday, December 10, following an early evening staff party at the palace.
“At 21.21hrs on Tuesday, December 10, 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,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told The Sun, though, according to People, the police department would not confirm the identity nor profession of the person arrested.
“Officers attended and arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly,” the police statement continued. “She was taken into custody and released the following evening having been given a penalty notice for disorder.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Us Weekly in a statement Friday that the matter is being investigated internally.
“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,” the palace said in a statement to Us. “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.”
One eyewitness told The Sun that the woman’s actions were unlike anything they’d ever seen before. “I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level,” they said.
King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, are expected to spend the holidays at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, as is royal tradition. They are expected to be joined by Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, as well as the couple’s three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
“This past year has been one of the most challenging yet for [them],” royal expert Sharon Carpenter says in Us Weekly‘s latest cover story, referring to Kate and Charles’ respective cancer diagnoses. “You can only imagine the relief and gratitude they must be feeling.”
“Kate is genuinely looking forward to joining the royal family at Sandringham for Christmas,” says Carpenter. “The holidays will no doubt be a chance for the entire family to give thanks.”
