A Buckingham Palace staff Christmas party descended into chaos, resulting in the arrest of a 24-year-old housemaid after glasses were smashed and punches thrown at a nearby bar on Tuesday night reports the Sun
The woman was part of a group of around 50 Palace employees who gathered at All Bar One on Victoria Street following an earlier reception at Buckingham Palace. Trouble flared at the pre-arranged event when the maid allegedly became “hysterical,” smashing glasses and attempting to assault the bar manager.
Police Called to Scene
The Metropolitan Police were called to the bar at 9:21 pm following reports of disorder. The woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. She was held in custody overnight and released the following evening with a penalty notice for disorder.
A Met Police spokesperson stated:
“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. Officers attended and arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly.”
Witness Accounts
Staff and witnesses at the bar described the scene as “chaotic.” One insider said:
“The group walked in, and this one girl just got hysterical. She started smashing glasses and abusing our staff members, so we had to call the police. I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level.”
Another staff member added:
“It was an incredibly busy night with so many bookings, and we were fully booked when this large group arrived. It added to the chaos.”
Buckingham Palace Statement
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson acknowledged the incident, 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.”
Security Measures and Investigations
The pub’s security team attempted to manage the situation before police arrived. CCTV footage of the incident has been seized by police as part of their investigation.
The incident comes amid the festive party season, with warnings about the potential for such gatherings to spiral out of control. The chaotic scenes at one of London’s busiest Christmas party venues have raised concerns about the behavior of some attendees.
Further disciplinary action against those involved is expected as Buckingham Palace conducts its internal review.
