Windsor Castle crossbow suspect to stand trial next year

A man is due to stand trial next year accused of intending to harm the late Queen after he allegedly entered the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow on Christmas Day.

Jaswant Singh Chail appeared via video-link to face three charges, including an offence under the Treason Act.

The 20-year-old did not enter pleas and the Old Bailey hearing was adjourned for further evidence to be obtained.

A trial, set to last two to three weeks, was set for 20 March.

Mr Chail, who is also charged with making threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon, was remanded in custody.

Mr Chail, from Southampton, faces a charge under section two of the 1842 Treason Act that states "on December 25 2021 at Windsor Castle, 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".

The Queen had been staying at Windsor Castle for Christmas, rather than spending it as usual on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

She was due to be joined for lunch by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Queen, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96 on 8 September.

Under the 1842 Treason Act, it is an offence to assault the Queen, or have a firearm or offensive weapon in her presence with intent to injure or alarm her or to cause a breach of peace.

In 1981, Marcus Sarjeant was jailed for five years under the section of the Treason Act after he fired blank shots at the Queen while she was riding down The Mall in London during the Trooping the Colour parade.