King Charles III’s Sandringham Home Gets Security Upgrade After Drones Scare

King Charles III can sleep soundly after new no-fly restrictions were approved for his Sandringham estate.

The royal family’s security services requested new restrictions on March 4, according to The Sun after drones were reportedly seen flying over the estate. The drones were reportedly traced back to a man sitting in a nearby car.

Britain’s Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander signed off on the order on March 10, according to Hello!. The new guidelines restrict aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet at Sandringham, which is Charles, 76, and wife Queen Consort Camilla’s country home that boasts 20,000 acres.

The restrictions are in place “for reasons of public safety and security,” per the outlet, which reported that the order states: “These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Sandringham House, Norfolk.”

Royal air travel, visitors’ planes and police and emergency service planes are exempt from the order.

The order concluded: “In view of the need for security for members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House and at the request of the security services, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of public safety and security.”

The new flying rules were ordered just days after Charles hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the estate amid Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.

“I’m very grateful for this meeting and for how His Majesty helps Ukraine and supports us,” Zelensky, 47, told reporters after the March 2 meeting per Hello!. “He’s met our warriors here, being trained in the U.K., and we’re very thankful to the Royal Family for their support.”

The change in security also comes less than one month after Charles was admitted to the hospital amid his ongoing cancer treatment. Buckingham Palace confirmed on March 27 that the king was taken to the hospital after a reaction to his treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, which he announced to the public in February 2024.

“The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital,” the statement read. “His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were, therefore, postponed.” The palace later revealed that Charles was set to return to his “usual working week” on April 1.

Earlier this month, Camilla, 77, told U.K. journalists covering the couple’s visit to Italy that her husband is fulfilled by his job despite his health ups and downs.

“I think he loves his work, and it keeps him going,” she said on April 13 according to Hello!. “And I think it’s wonderful, you know, if you’ve been ill and you are recovering, you’re getting better and now he wants to do more and more and more. That’s the problem. That’s what he’s driven by. Helping others.”