London police bars five officers from royal residences

A significant internal investigation into the conduct of officers tasked with protecting the British royal family has resulted in multiple officers being removed from their posts, raising questions about standards within the elite security unit. Five armed officers from the Metropolitan Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) command have been barred from all royal residences following a workplace complaint, while a separate, wider probe is examining allegations against approximately two dozen other officers in the same unit.

The initial case stems from a complaint filed in October 2024 by a female staff member at Kensington Palace. She reported a series of inappropriate comments and interactions involving officers that allegedly occurred between August 2023 and September 2024. Specific allegations included an officer describing the palace as "full of little Hitlers" after being asked to move equipment, and another officer attempting to connect with the employee on Facebook, an interaction she found inappropriate. The staff member characterized the officers' comments as misogynistic.

The Metropolitan Police conducted an internal investigation and stated the reported...