Buckingham Palace to investigate incident involving Household staff

Buckingham Palace has announced that “appropriate action” will be implemented following accounts of one of its Household staff members being arrested subsequent to a Christmas party held at a London bar. Authorities were reportedly summoned to a bar situated in Victoria, close to the palace, at 21:21 GMT on Tuesday, responding to reports that a patron had broken glasses and tried to assault a staff member. A woman, aged 24, was apprehended on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. A Palace spokesperson confirmed awareness of an incident involving staff members occurring outside their professional environment, stating that the “facts will be fully investigated.” The Sun newspaper reported that the event, a pre-arranged gathering, was attended by up to 50 staff members at an All Bar One branch. The woman was reportedly issued a penalty notice for disorder after being taken into custody and detained until the subsequent day. The spokesperson verified that staff had attended a reception at the palace earlier that evening, but emphasized that the incident itself took place at an unofficial gathering at a different location. The Metropolitan Police issued a statement, confirming: “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.” The statement continued: “Officers attended and arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.” It concluded: “She was taken into custody and released the following evening having been given a penalty notice for disorder.” A spokesperson for the Palace provided a statement to the BBC, saying: “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. “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.” The BBC has sought a comment from the Metropolitan Police regarding the matter.