A man who entered the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow on Christmas Day has appeared in court on charges of Treason and making threats to kill the Queen.
Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
Mr Chail, from Southampton, was allegedly spotted in the grounds of Windsor Castle on 25th December last year.
Jaswant Singh Chail was detained in the castle grounds on Christmas Day last year when the Queen was in residence.
Jonathan Brady
Elizabeth Cook
Prosecutors say he had been carrying a weapon which had the potential to cause "serious or fatal injuries".
Mr Chail appeared via video link at the Old Bailey wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt but did not enter a plea to the charges against him.
The allegations are not being treated as a "terrorism offence" but were investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.
He has been charged with an offence under section 2 of the 1842 Treason Act, namely "discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm her Majesty".
Under the 1842 Treason Act, it is an offence to assault the Sovereign, or have a firearm or offensive weapon in her presence with intent to injure or alarm or to cause a breach of peace.
The late Queen had been staying at Windsor Castle for Christmas, rather than spending it as usual on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The hearing was adjourned until December for further evidence to be obtained.
Jaswant Chail was detained in custody.
A trial date has been set for March 20th next year.
