Queen Camilla ‘targeted by gang at service station’ with bag ‘stolen’
Queen Camilla's bag carrying her jewels was reportedly stolen as she made her way to a three-day royal tour with King Charles
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor 09:20, 07 Nov 2025
View 3 ImagesQueen Camilla was reportedly targeted by thieves who swiped her bag(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Queen Camilla's jewellery was reportedly taken at a motorway service station following an error by three Royal protection officers. The incident occurred as the Queen and King Charles were preparing to embark on a three-day visit to Canada in 2022.[1][2][3]
The Royal couple were getting ready to fly across the Atlantic as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
However, author Robert Jobson claims the trip began with a "rocky start" when Camilla fell victim to a local criminal gang.
He alleges the opportunistic thieves managed to steal a bag belonging to Camilla whilst aides were taking a break at a service station.[4]
In his book, Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, the author writes: "At Beaconsfield Services, located off Junction 2 of the M40 motorway in Buckinghamshire, Camilla's jewels were stolen after three royal aides left the bag, labelled 'HRH The Duchess of Cornwall', unattended in an unlocked car.
"A local gang struck when one aide stepped away for a cigarette while the other two were inside getting coffees."
View 3 ImagesThe King and Queen visited Canada in 2022(Image: Getty)
Jobson alleges MI5 were quickly dispatched to the location and succeeded in tracing the criminals using nearby CCTV footage. He states Camilla's jewellery was retrieved within several hours.
Senior Royal insiders were reportedly "amazed" that the incident never became public knowledge. The author continues: "No charges were filed, no police report was ever made, and the incident was buried to avoid embarrassment."
Buckingham Palace refused to comment on the comments made by Jobson.
Camilla wouldn't be the only Royal to have been targeted by criminals over the years.
In March 1974, gunman Ian Ball shot police officers during a botched attempt to kidnap Princess Anne. The Princess Royal is famously reported to have told Ball, then aged 26, that it was "not bloody likely" she would accompany him.
View 3 ImagesThe King and Queen were preparing for a state visit at the time(Image: Getty)
This occurred as he pursued the limousine carrying the princess and her then-husband Mark Phillips through London's streets and onto the Mall. He was eventually restrained by retired heavyweight boxer, Ronnie Russell.
Ball was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act and spent 45 years in Broadmoor and Rampton psychiatric hospitals.
It's reported that he was released in 2019.
Anne was said to be "furious" about the incident as Ball engaged in a "tug of war" that tore her favourite blue velvet dress.
In 1981, Christopher John Lewis reportedly conspired to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and had plans to kill other royals.
He is alleged to have fired a shot as the Queen toured the city of Dunedin.
Documents released in 2018 stated that police and the public heard "what they took to be a shot", and Lewis was later apprehended.
Article continues belowThe BBC[5] cites official documents stating: "Lewis did indeed originally intend to assassinate the Queen," but he "did not have a suitable vantage point from which to fire, nor a sufficiently high-powered rifle for the range".
Lewis died in prison while awaiting trial for murder in an unrelated case in 1997.
References
- ^ the Queen (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ King Charles (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ preparing to embark on a three-day visit to Canada in 2022. (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ were taking a break at a service station. (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ BBC (www.walesonline.co.uk)