Stroud News and Journal - news from Stroud, Stonehouse, Nailsworth and across the Five Valleys

Drunken prank at Highgrove

From the Stroud News and Journal, first published Wednesday 7th May 2003.

A GROUP of drunken men got into the grounds of Prince Charles' Highgrove home, romped around naked and stole a plastic owl from a tree.

The men, from the Cardiff area were driving past the Prince's Estate near Tetbury on May 1 and decided to stop for a closer look.

They say they spent half an hour inside the grounds of the estate and were able to make off unchallenged with the plastic owl, which was used to scare off birds. Later on, two of the men were arrested in Tetbury and detained overnight for questioning.

One was then released without charge and the other, Andrew Morgan, 30, was cautioned for the theft of the owl.

A Gloucestershire police spokesman disputed the men's claim that if they had been terrorists they could have endangered the lives of Prince Charles and his sons.

"The bird scarer was taken from a tree just twenty feet inside the estate land but outside the protected boundary area of Highgrove House," said the spokeswoman. "This was not a Royal security breach."

Andrew Morgan said he and his four workmates wandered around for about half an hour and went within 200 yards of the house.

He admitted the drunken prank had been "sheer stupidity."

"We had a few drinks after work and we were driving home when we passed the entrance to a large estate," he said.

"We drove up a track, parked on the verge, walked about 150 metres and climbed over a four bar metal fence into the estate.

"We spotted a gazebo at the end of a beautiful tree lined grass walkway that led directly to Highgrove House.

"We took some photos for a bit of a laugh so I could show my mum because she loves the Royals.

"We took it in turns for everybody to pose for pictures sitting outside the gazebo and then one of the guys started running around naked."

A Royal spokesman at St James Palace said "This group were a long way from the main security area of the house.

"In terms of the house and the main area, the security at Highgrove was not compromised."

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