Royal Family member harassed by 'obsessed' man desperate to contact King's trusted ally

He was also convicted of harassing Zenouska Mowatt, the granddaughter of Princess Alexandra and great-great-granddaughter of King George V and 59th in line to the throne.

Lyons was described as "polite, but persistent" in trying to reach the Duke of Gloucester about a music copyright issue.

Ms Mowatt received three Instagram messages from Lyons in 2023, which she described as "unnerving" and "unsettling".

After she unblocked him, he began following her again within a day, which she found particularly disturbing.

Lyons also contacted her through LinkedIn in March and April 2023, and later in November via Instagram.

Ms Mowatt told the trial: "I was unnerved and upset."

Judge Michael Snow noted: "She was closely followed online by him and not surprisingly she was unnerved and upset. The conduct was calculated to achieve that end."

Ms Mowatt was additionally contacted on her work email in September 2023 and again on LinkedIn in May last year.

Mr Todd told the court the constant phone calls from Lyons were "very annoying in a busy office" and he worried about the impact on his young staff.

The first call came in January 2023, followed by emails and LinkedIn messages.

Lyons even appeared at Kensington Palace claiming to have an appointment with the Duke.

After 11 emails were blocked, Lyons created a new email address to continue contact.

Eventually, Mr Todd agreed to take a call from Lyons and told him "in no uncertain terms to stop".

Judge Snow said: "I am quite satisfied Mr Todd was alarmed and distressed by the continual contact."

Ms Pearce, who attended Wiltshire's private Stonar School, received two telephone calls from Lyons on April 2 last year, asking to speak to the Duke of Gloucester.

Two days later, she received calls from two different phone numbers.

"The second call was slightly more forceful and aggressive," she told the trial.

Lyons also contacted her via LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

"I was quite alarmed as it is rare someone would call three times in quick succession," Ms Pearce added.

She described his actions as "an invasion into my personal life" and said: "It is, in my eyes, harassment and very unsettling and I believe it could be potentially threatening with the amount of contact."

Ms Hobbs, who attended the private Benenden School in Kent, received four calls from Lyons using three different mobile numbers.

"It was quite unsettling because they were different phone numbers and it makes you feel quite uncomfortable," she told the court.

Lyons also contacted her via LinkedIn on May 9, claiming he had a "legal emergency" and needed to speak to the Duke "ASAP".

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"It is very distressing and quite concerning that he has stalked me online, found my surname and gone to the effort to message me," Ms Hobbs said.

"It is horrible and not very nice, especially as a young female and not knowing who this person is."

Lyons, who has never worked and relies on family financial support, was conditionally discharged for two years.

He was also ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge.

Judge Snow made him subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the four victims, the office of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Royal Household switchboard and the Duke and Duchess themselves.

"If you do contact the victims you will be in serious trouble," Judge Snow warned the first-time offender.

The judge described his decision as "an exceptional course" for Lyons, who did not give evidence during the trial.