1838

In 1838, when he was 14, Edward Jones entered Buckingham Palace disguised as a chimney sweep. He was caught by a porter and fled; the porter gave chase, as did the police, and he was eventually captured. When searched, he was found with a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear hidden in his trousers! Although he had apparently stolen linen and a regimental sword from the palace previously, he was acquitted by the jury.

Two years later, nine days after the birth of Queen Victoria's first child, he climbed the wall of Buckingham Palace and entered again, wandering around for a while he left undetected. He broke in again later the same year. At about midnight, Baroness Lehzen discovered him under a sofa in the Queen's dressing room, and he was arrested. His father entered a plea of insanity on his behalf, but without success, he was sentenced to three months in a house of correction. While he was in prison, they tried to persuade him to join the Royal Navy, but he refused. He did his time and was released.

In early 1841, he once again broke into the palace and, after helping himself to some food, was caught in one of the royal apartments by the reinforced police force guarding the palace. This time, he was sentenced to three months' hard labour. After this incident, additional guards were added to the palace force.

After being caught loitering in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace, he was sent by force to do duty in the Navy and served on several ships. He jumped ship at Portsmouth and walked to London, where he was caught before he reached the palace and sent back to his ship.

In his later life, he turned to alcohol and a life of petty crime. He later went to Australia, where he became the town crier of Perth.

In the 1880s, Edward Jones adopted the name "Thomas Jones" in a vain attempt to escape his unwanted notoriety. He died on Boxing Day 1893 in Bairnsdale, Australia, after falling off the parapet of the east side of the Mitchell River Bridge while drunk and landing on his head. He is buried at the Bairnsdale Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Sources: The Boy Jones, by Charles Dickens from All the Year Round 1884

The Strange Tale of the First Royal Stalker by Jan Bondeson.