Buckingham Palace is facing serious questions over its vetting procedures after a former member of royal staff was unmasked as a key figure in Britain’s neo-Nazi movement.
The 26-year-old, who previously worked as a warden at the royal residence, has been revealed as a leading organiser within extremist networks while employed at the Palace — one of the most secure institutions in the country.
Matthew Gravill, from Leicestershire, served as chief propagandist for far-right organisations Active Club England and Vanguard Britannica, all while guiding tourists through Buckingham Palace’s state rooms.
As a warden working close to the Royal Family’s most prized possessions, Mr Gravill welcomed guests and moved through the State Rooms at the heart of Britain’s establishment. The revelation that a Palace employee maintained close links to extremist groups has prompted concern about the robustness of royal security checks.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Mr Gravill confirmed to ITV News that he “worked for the Royal Family,” describing his main duty at the Palace as “talking about the history of the place.” However, he concealed his role in organising white supremacist activity from his employers until his departure last year.
The Neo-Nazi said: “I’m sure the Royal Family will be very displeased with my views. But that’s because the Royal Family is not that interested in preserving native Europeans.”
His exposure follows a year-long investigation revealing how he operated under the pseudonym “John” within extremist circles, coordinating far-right groups whilst holding a position of trust inside the royal household.
Following his departure from royal service, Mr Gravill travelled to Texas in September, where he headed a British contingent attending the inaugural National Conference of the American neo-fascist organisation Patriot Front.
The delegation delivered presentations on “conditions in Britain” and took part in training workshops, according to posts on the group’s Telegram channel that initially attracted little attention.
The views of Neo-Nazi working in Buckingham Palace exposed
|ITV / GETTY
A photograph from the gathering shows 12 participants positioned before a Texan flag, performing a chest-salute gesture associated with far-right movements. The image captures prominent American extremists alongside their British guests, though the UK attendees’ faces were deliberately obscured.
Among those present were Robert Rundo, creator of the international Active Club network, who previously fled America following violence-related charges, and Thomas Rousseau, the 27-year-old Patriot Front founder who helped coordinate the 2017 Charlottesville rally. Also attending was Jared Taylor, editor of American Renaissance magazine.
Evidence gathered during a six-month undercover operation exposed Mr Gravill’s central position within Active Club England, where he managed all technical operations, including photography, artwork creation, logo design and the group’s symbolic imagery.
“I do all the photos, the artwork, the designs, the logos, the Active Club symbol,” he stated in secretly recorded conversations, adding that he maintained contact with international associates.
The organisation stages fortnightly sessions in Vauxhall, a short distance from MI6 headquarters, presenting these gatherings as fitness training whilst allegedly preparing members for potential violence.
LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTS
Buckingham Palace is recognised worldwide as the home of the British monarch and the centrepiece of the UK's constitution | PABeyond Active Club England, Mr Gravill organised a two-day “Winter Assembly 2025” for Vanguard Britannica at a Thames Valley retreat typically used for wellness weekends. The January gathering drew nine participants for what promotional materials described as “discussions around ideology, tactics and organising”, concluding with the rallying cry: “The Lion Wakes!”
Heidi Beirich from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism characterised the Texas gathering as “really a who’s who of the white supremacist movement today.” She warned that these connections bring “ideas, those connections to violence, those threats to non-white communities” back to Britain, noting the attendees “believe in the ethnic cleansing of countries.”
Ms Beirich emphasised Mr Gravill’s significance within extremist networks: “He’s got to have some certain prominence, some reason they want to be interacting with him. He’s on their radar.”
Neil Basu, former UK counter-terrorism chief, described the transatlantic cooperation as “disturbing” and “a new elevation of the threat.” He noted this represented a shift from his tenure between 2018 and 2021, when such organised international gatherings were not observed.
When approached for comment, Buckingham Palace acknowledged the inquiry but declined to address specific details.
A Palace spokesman told ITV: “Thank you for raising this with us. The Royal Household takes all such matters extremely seriously.
“However, as a matter of policy, we are not able to comment on individual security issues, not least since to do so might compromise operational procedures. Further, since your enquiries in this instance relate to a former employee of The Royal Collection Trust — the charity which looks after visitors to the Royal Palaces and associated staff — this is a matter for them to assist you with.”
The Royal Collection Trust, Mr Gravill’s direct employer, refused to discuss “security matters or individuals.”
The revelations have raised questions about how a figure with extremist affiliations was able to work within the Palace, which houses both the offices of the King and staff who interact with visiting dignitaries and members of the public.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed alarm at the findings, saying: “Someone with those sorts of dangerously extremist views should not be anywhere near the Royal Family or in any other part of our public service.”
He confirmed the matter would be investigated. “I think this is serious. Obviously, it will be looked at. The circumstances will be investigated and appropriate action taken, but this case does concern me.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously stated the extremist footage demonstrated “why action is needed” against such groups.
When journalists confronted Mr Gravill on a suburban west London street, he initially froze and muttered “Oh f***” before attempting to justify his beliefs.
“I am an ethnocentrist,” he told reporters. “I believe in supporting and advocating for the interests of my people, currently being driven to the verge of extinction.”
He confirmed believing in “having an ethnically homogenous society” whilst insisting: “I have no interest in killing, hurting, violence, terrorism — anything like that. I believe in peaceful political activism.”
Regarding his meetings with American extremists, he claimed he was merely “having conversations” and “saw some nice people.”
Mr Basu highlighted the contradiction between Mr Gravill’s peaceful rhetoric and his promotion of combat training, suggesting the movement was “preparing for” what “sounds a bit like a war, a war on race.”