The Boy Jones: Queen Victoria’s Stalker

Edward Jones, or the boy Jones, as he was called by the British newspapers of the early Victorian era, was a notorious intruder into Buckingham Palace between 1838 and 1841. 

In 1838, aged 14, he entered Buckingham Palace, disguised as a sweep. He was caught by a porter in the Marble Hall and, after a chase, captured by the police in St James’s Street, with Queen Victoria’s underwear stuffed down his trousers. He was brought before court and it turned out that he had frequently mentioned his intention to enter the palace to his employer, a builder. Although he had apparently stolen linen and a regimental sword from the palace, he was acquitted by the jury.

On 30 November 1840, he “scaled the wall of Buckingham Palace about half-way up Constitution Hill”, entered the palace, and left it undetected. On 1 December he broke in again. Shortly after midnight a nurse discovered him under a sofa in the queen’s dressing room and he was arrested. His father’s plea of insanity being without success, he was sentenced to three months in a house of correction. This incident caused a stir because it was feared that it might affect the Queen, happening so shortly after she gave birth to her first child.

On 15 March 1841, after a snack in one of the royal apartments, Jones was caught by the police guarding the palace. This time he was sentenced to three months hard labour. A short time after his release he was again caught loitering in the vicinity of the palace and was sent to do duty on a warship, but after a year he found an opportunity to walk from Portsmouth to London. Having been caught before he reached the palace, he was sent back to his ship. He became an alcoholic and a burglar and later went to Australia, where he became the town crier of Perth. He died in Australia from a drunken fall in 1893.

Eat your heart out Michael Fagan.