A man has been arrested on suspicion of having flown drones over Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm.
Swedish Police said on 31 January that they had arrested a Russian citizen who flew a drone above Drottningholm Palace on 30 January. The man is suspected of violating the Swedish “Protection Act.”
The Swedish Royal Court, Sweden’s Security Police and the Swedish Armed Forces have all been informed.
Police were alerted by an informant to travel to Drottningholm Palace on 30 January around 13:00. There, they quickly arrested a man in his 40s who they believed flew drones over the palace.
The man was arrested by local police but was released later on Monday after a decision by prosecutors. However, police have said he is still a suspect.
The Royal Palace, Drottningholm Palace, and Haga Palace are protected locations, and it is forbidden to fly drones over the palace areas.
The Swedish Royal Court has so far not commented on the arrest or the drones that have been flown over the residences.
Earlier in January, drones were spotted flying over both the Royal Palace in Stockholm and Drottningholm Palace. However, it is not known if King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were in either palace when the drones were seen.
The Royal Palace is the Royal Family’s working palace, while Drottningholm Palace is their private residence.
Drones were also seen flying over various nuclear plants in Sweden.
Drottningholm Palace was initially built in the late 16th century, and it became the primary residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and their family in the 1980s. With the exception of the family’s private quarters in the west wing, it is open to the public and a popular tourist attraction in Stockholm.
