Fashion

The True Story of Queen Elizabeth and Michael Fagan, the Palace Intruder

The Crown Season 4 revisits Michael Fagan’s infamous Buckingham Palace break-in. Here’s what really happened….

On July 9, 1982, at just around 7 a.m., Michael Fagan shimmied up a Buckingham Palace drainpipe all the way to a flat roof that was only a few feet away from the palace’s main building. He was barefoot, unshaven, and wearing only a sweatshirt and jeans. He climbed through an unlocked window and into the palace’s historic halls, undetected by cameras or security. Then he slipped into the chambers of Queen Elizabeth II.

Nearly 40 years later, the worst security breach in Buckingham Palace history is revisited in season four, episode five, of The Crown, “Fagan.” Instead of showing it from the queen’s perspective, creator Peter Morgan approaches it from the downtrodden eyes of Fagan. An unemployed decorator struggling with mental illness, he’s estranged from his wife, his children, and most of all, Thatcherism. He breaks into the queen’s bedroom because he wants her to know how people like him were left behind by the conservative, deregulated state. “She’s destroying the country,” he says of Thatcher. “The right to work, the right to be ill, the right to be old, the right to be frail, to be human—gone.”

The bones of the story line are true. An unemployed Fagan did break into Buckingham Palace, not once but twice. And the second time, he did wander into the queen’s bedroom for 10 uninterrupted minutes until she was able to get help.

But The Crown did take significant creative license. According to, well, Fagan himself: In a recent interview with The Telegraph, he recounted that they didn’t converse for very long at all. “‘What are you doing here?’” Fagan says the monarch asked when he pulled back her curtains. Furthermore, Scotland Yard’s incident report at the time said that, after two phone calls to the police, “Her Majesty attracted the attention of the maid, and together they ushered Fagan into a nearby pantry on the pretext of supplying him with a cigarette.”

Reports published immediately after the incident in 1982 fleshed out their conversation topics a bit more: The New York Times, for example, wrote that Fagan and the queen talked about Prince Charles. (This makes sense: Charles and Diana had just welcomed their first child, Prince William, weeks before.) A rant against conservatism and Thatcher, however? Not mentioned by any news outlet or even by Fagan himself.

One detail of The Crown’s depiction that is true? Fagan’s wine theft. During his first break in—where he also got in via drainpipe—he found himself in Buckingham Palace’s Room 108. It was being used to store gifts the public sent for the Prince and Princess of Wales’s baby. He found a bottle of Australian wine in the cabinet and poured himself a drink. “I was waiting to be captured,” he said during his trial for theft of the bottle of wine. (He was acquitted.) “I drank it because I was waiting for someone to come.” And, the second time around, someone certainly did.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Ice Spice Stuns in Paris Fashion Week Photo Dump, Fans Celebrate Her Iconic Looks and Natural Glow

Ice Spice is showing that she’s not only a rising star in rap but also a true fashion icon. Recently, while in Milan, she brushed aside rumors about her dating football player Sauce Gardner and then took Paris Fashion Week by storm, leaving her fans in awe. In her latest series of Instagram photos, captioned “princess in paris,” she displayed an amazing mix of high-fashion styles, proving that she knows how to set trends. She flaunted various looks, from chic and cool to gracefully glamorous. Whether she was sporting wavy hair in a sheer dress or sleek and stylish in leather with straight hair, Ice Spice radiated confidence and creativity.

Some photos even featured her with fellow artists PinkPantheress and Chappell Roan, showing how well she blends music, culture, and fashion. Fans couldn’t help but shower her with compliments, celebrating her bold changes in style and her undeniable star quality. However, there was some chatter about her body along with the fashion talk. Some fans pointed out that Ice Spice seemed to have gained some weight, which reminded them of her earlier look, playfully nicknamed “Old Spice” by her followers.

While it’s easy for social media to focus on how celebrities change over time, it’s essential to remember that body image is a personal journey. As always, Ice Spice carries herself confidently, promoting self-acceptance and self-expression. No matter what others think, she embraces her individuality, balancing her artistry with a refreshing honesty that keeps fans engaged. Her time at Paris Fashion Week was a strong message. Ice Spice is determined to set her own. Whether she’s front row at the hottest fashion shows or casually sharing snapshots, the world is paying attention, and she’s making the most of every moment.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Adin Ross Blindsided by Kanye West’s Controversial Gift, A Swastika Shirt With His Name

Adin Ross is a well known streamer in the hip-hop community, famous for showcasing some of the biggest artists in the genre. He has hosted viral interviews and has helped amplify the work of music giants like Drake, earning a reputation as a connector between artists and their fans. However, things took a shocking turn with Kanye West, and the relationship may be irreparable. In the past, Ross has expressed his admiration for West and even tried to collaborate with him on his stream. Recently, West made a bizarre attempt to reach out to Ross by gifting him a custom t-shirt with a Swastika and Ross’s name. This left Ross, who is Jewish, feeling horrified and betrayed.

The awkward moment unfolded during a FaceTime call that Ross recorded and shared with his followers. What started as a friendly chat quickly turned shocking when West unveiled the offensive t-shirt. Ross was visibly stunned, exclaiming, “What the f*ck?!” as he processed what he had just seen. He paused the video and turned to his audience to express his disbelief. “He has a shirt with a Swastika with my name on it,” he said, clearly disappointed and in shock. His viewers reacted with outrage and support for Ross, flooding the chat with their messages.

Throughout the call, Ross tried to keep his cool and handled the situation carefully. He later explained that some fans might have expected him to confront West more aggressively, but he felt the entire situation was just too absurd. “I know y’all are gonna say I didn’t stand up to him,” he noted, emphasizing that his calm reaction didn’t mean he supported West’s actions. This incident is just another episode in Kanye West’s ongoing controversies, but for Adin Ross, it feels like a personal betrayal.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0