Queen Elizabeth Cousin Simon Bowes-Lyon Released From Prison Early

Simon Bowes-Lyon was quietly released early from prison last week. The Sunday Times reported today that the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II got out of prison after serving just half of his sentence for a sexual assault conviction from February 2021.

Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his attack on an unnamed woman at the royal Glamis Castle in early 2020. Click through the gallery here for the full story.

In February 2021, Simon Bowes-Lyon pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges and was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He'd been serving his time at the HMP Perth in Scotland, and he was released sometime last week, according to the British press.

News of his release only became known today, Aug. 5. And, as of this writing, it's not yet clear why or how Bowes-Lyon was released early — halfway through his sentence. Daily Mail noted that spokesmen for the Scottish Prison Service and for the Strathmore Estates declined comment on the decision.

(Warning: Details of the assault are included on the next slide.)

Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, served five months in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges, stemming from a February 2020 incident at Glamis Castle in Scotland.

He assaulted a then 26-year-old woman after an event held at the royal residence — noted as the childhood home of The Queen Mother. According to the BBC, Bowes-Lyon "repeatedly attacked" the victim, groped her, and "tried to pull off her nightdress" during an assault that lasted 20 minutes.

Bowes-Lyon did plead guilty to the disturbing crime, and after doing so he told the press outside the courthouse: "Clearly I had drunk to excess on the night of the incident. I should have known better. I recognise, in any event, that alcohol is no excuse for my behaviour."

But he's now out of prison after having served just half of his original 10-month sentence.

Simon Bowes-Lyon is a first cousin twice removed of Queen Elizabeth II. He's a great-great-nephew of the Queen's mother, Elizabeth (née Bowes-Lyon). He descends from Michael Claude Hamilton Bowes-Lyon, the brother of The Queen Mother.

We hope his victim continues to find peace following the sexual assault of early 2020.

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