Queen Elizabeth II’s relative pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman at his castle in Scotland — and could spend up to five years behind bars, according to new reports.
Earl of Strathmore Simon Bowes-Lyon attacked the 26-year-old woman in her room for 20 minutes during a weekend event he was hosting last February at Glamis Castle, a 16,500-acre Scottish estate, according to the BBC.
The 34-year-old earl is the Queen’s great-great-nephew and first cousin twice removed.
He was granted bail during a hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court this week, and his sentence was deferred, the outlet reported. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
He could ultimately be jailed for up to five years, the UK’s Daily Record reported.
The court heard that Bowes-Lyon arrived uninvited at the victim’s room at his ancestral home around 1:20 a.m. after she had gone to bed, the Record reported.
“[The victim] was asleep and was woken by knocking at the door,” prosecutor Lynne Mannion said, according to the report.
Bowes-Lyon pleaded with the victim, “It’s important. Please let me in,” according to Mannion.
“She got up. The second she opened the door, he pushed his way in and pushed her onto the bed,” Mannion said. “He was very drunk and smelled of cigarettes. He told her he wanted to have an affair.”
Bowes-Lyon admitted to repeatedly pushing the woman onto a bed, forcibly grabbing her breasts, trying to pull off her nightdress, pushing her against a wall, touching her behind and vagina and trying to kiss her, according to the report.
The terrified victim raised her voice to try to get other guests’ attention, but Bowes-Lyon wouldn’t leave and instead threatened, “I’m going to f–k you,” the court heard.
He also reportedly called the victim “a rude, mean, bad and horrible person” and seethed that the victim couldn’t tell him what to do in his own home.
She eventually managed to boot him from the room and sent messages to her colleagues and boyfriend for help, the Record reported.
The earl tried to get in once more, but the victim contacted another guest who came to help, according to the report.
Outside court, Bowes-Lyon said he was “greatly ashamed” of his actions, the UK outlets reported.
“Clearly I had drunk to excess on the night of the incident,” he added. “I should have known better. I recognize, in any event, that alcohol is no excuse for my behavior.”
“I did not think I was capable of behaving the way I did but have had to face up to it and take responsibility,” he continued. “My apologies go, above all, to the woman concerned, but I would also like to apologize to family, friends and colleagues for the distress I have caused them.”
Glamis Castle has been the seat of the Bowes-Lyon family since 1372.
Queen Elizabeth II grew up there, and her sister, Princess Margaret, was born there.