Senior aides are said to have left a bag marked “HRH The Duchess of Cornwall” unattended

A security incident involving Queen Camilla’s jewellery took place at a motorway service station in 2022, according to claims in a new royal biography.

The episode has been described in Robert Jobson’s new book Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, which states that the theft occurred at Beaconsfield Services on the M40 in Buckinghamshire while the then-Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles were preparing for an overseas visit to Canada as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Jobson claimed that a bag containing Camilla’s jewellery was taken after royal staff stopped at the service station during the journey.

According to the book, aides had placed a bag labelled “HRH The Duchess of Cornwall” inside a vehicle, which was left unsecured while staff briefly left the area.

Queen Camilla’s jewellery ‘taken’ during motorway stop ahead of Canada visit

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It is thought that the bag was removed when one staff member stepped out to smoke, and two others had gone inside the service station to buy coffee.

Mr Jobson described the incident as a lapse in normal procedure during what would otherwise have been a routine travel stop.

At the time, Camilla was still Duchess of Cornwall and preparing for a significant international visit undertaken with Prince Charles on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Canadian tour formed part of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, and was intended to highlight continuing ties between the Crown and Commonwealth nations.

Queen Camilla arriving in Canada for the visit in 2022

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The biography claimed that security and intelligence personnel later became involved in efforts to recover the bag.

CCTV from the surrounding area was used during the response, according to the book.

Mr Jobson further alleged that the jewellery was recovered within hours. It is understood that no charges were brought in relation to the incident and that no public record of the event was made at the time.

The royal author claimed that senior figures were aware of the matter but chose not to publicise it, and that some sources expressed surprise that details had not previously entered the public domain.

Queen Camilla and King Charles greeting Canadian fans in 2022

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The incident reportedly took place shortly before the couple departed for their Canadian engagements

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The book suggests the episode was not disclosed in order to avoid embarrassment during the late Queen’s Jubilee period.

Royal travel generally involves detailed logistical planning, with security teams coordinating routes, accommodation, and timings in advance. Items of personal or ceremonial value are typically transported under close supervision, and the suggestion of a lapse during a routine stop is likely to prompt interest in how such arrangements are managed.

The incident reportedly took place shortly before the couple departed for their Canadian engagements, which included meetings with community leaders, Indigenous representatives and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment when approached by GB News.