‘I’m here to kill the Queen’: Man admits trying to harm royal after being caught in Windsor Castle with crossbow

Jaswant Singh Chail was caught in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021

A man has admitted a charge under the Treason Act of trying to harm the Queen after being caught in the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow where he told police he was "here to kill the Queen". The Queen was in residence when 21-year-old Jaswant Singh Chail broke into the grounds of the castle, wearing a mask, and came within sight of her private apartments on Christmas Day 2021. The officer who stopped the 21-year-old, said he looked like "something out of a vigilante movie", Sky News reported. Chail appeared at London’s Old Bailey by video-link from Broadmoor Hospital on Friday, having been detained under the Mental Health Act. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill the late monarch and travelling to Windsor Castle with an offensive weapon. He admitted a rare charge under the Treason Act 1842 that stated: “Near to the person of the Queen, you did wilfully produce or have a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or to alarm her Majesty.” A protection officer from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was on duty shortly after 8am when he noticed Chail “walking slowly through the private grounds towards him”, the court heard. When the officer approached, he saw that Chail was wearing a hood and a mark that looked “like something out of a vigilante movie or dressed for Halloween”. Prosecutors said the officer unclipped his Taser and asked Chail: “Morning, can I help mate?” The defendant replied “I am here to kill the Queen”. When asked to drop the bow and get on his knees, Chail complied. Chail, who was 19 at the time, is due to be sentenced on 31 March, after the court is sent a psychiatric report assessing his culpability. Related links:

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