BRITISH royal family guards allegedly traded in hardcore porn and steroids, were handed firearms when drunk and sat on the Queen’s throne in comical poses when they should have been on duty.
Former Royal Protection Officer Paul Page appeared in court yesterday charged with conning colleagues at Buckingham Palace out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a property scam he allegedly ran.
But his defence counsel John Cooper turned the table on his client’s accusers, revealing an alleged “culture” and catalogue of scandal within the walls of the Palace.
Mr Cooper used a lengthy cross examination of witness former Sgt Adam McGregor to describe an alleged culture of on-duty porn, drugs and security breaches as well as smuggling friends into official royal parties hosted by the Queen.
In exchanges, Mr Cooper said he “suggested” there had been a procedure among armed officers at Buckingham Palace whereby one officer on duty might sleep while the others kept watch in case their superior caught them out.
Mr McGregor replied said it was not something he was aware of.
“Are you aware that, at times, officers would arrive on duty and be handed firearms when they were drunk?” he asked.
“No, I am not aware of that,” the former officer replied.
Mr Cooper then suggested that at times hardcore pornography would also be sold and traded in the locker rooms of royal protection officers.
In a later exchange, Mr Cooper asked Mr McGregor: “Would you consider it serious if a police officer serving in royalty protection got access to the thrones of the Queen and Prince Philip, sat on them with their feet up, put their thumbs up in a comical pose and had their photographs taken?”
“It would be unacceptable, yes, certainly,” he replied.
Later pressed to explain, Mr McGregor replied: “I may have sat on one of the thrones, but I do not recall doing any comical poses.”
The case continues.
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