Theft At Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth II's Staff Member Repeatedly Stole Valuables From Her Residence

Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II's London residence, has been robbed by one of its own staffers. The theft at the royal residence took place not once but thrice.

Adamo Canto, a Buckingham Palace catering assistant, has admitted to stealing some precious items from the 94-year-old monarch's official residence, reported BBC. The 37-year-old staffer has reportedly pleaded guilty to three counts of theft in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The stolen items were reported missing between November 2019 and August 2020. However, the police later found a "significant quantity" of valuables at Canto's royal quarters at the palace's Royal Mews. Some of these valuable items were also listed on the online shopping website eBay for sale.

The stolen items from the palace included medals and official signed photographs worth more than $ 100,000. These were signed pictures of the Duke of Sussex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and a photo album of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the U.K. valued at $2,000. In addition, he stole a Companion of Bath medal belonging to the Master of the Household.

It is said that a total of 37 items from the loot were put up for sale on eBay. According to Prosecutor Simon Maughan, Canto made more than $10,000 from the sale of these royal items. More details reveal that some 77 items were lifted from the palace shop alone. Other items were taken from staff lockers, the queen's Gallery shop and the Duke of York's storeroom.

Canto, who hails from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, started working at the royal palace in 2015, according to US Weekly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canto's position changed and he was given access to offices and other areas where he would normally be prohibited.

Canto was reportedly released on conditional bail, with a warning of a possible jail sentence in the future. He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a later date.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II remains away from her official residence. The monarch, along with her husband Prince Philip, has been isolating herself at Windsor Castle since the COVID-19 outbreak. The queen will continue to be at her Berkshire residence even during the Christmas holidays.