Simon Bowes-Lyon, the current Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne who is also a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, has been released from a Scottish prison five months into a 10-month sentence.

The Mirror reported that Bowes-Lyon, 35, was released from HMP Perth last week. Back in January, he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman staying at his ancestral home of Glamis Castle in Scotland. He was sentenced to ten months in prison for the assault, which took place in February of 2020.

The victim told the court that she was attending three-day public relations event at the 16,500-acre estate and had gone to bed when a “drunk” Bowes-Lyon went to her room at around 1.20 a.m. After convincing her to open the door, he allegedly pushed her on the bed and sexually assaulted her for twenty minutes.

Once Bowes-Lyon left the room, the victim locked the door and wedged a chair under the handle to prevent him getting back in. She was also “upset and afraid” and “left shaking” from the ordeal.

Bowes-Lyon apologized in court and said that he is “greatly ashamed of my actions which have caused such distress to a guest in my home.” While he added that he had “drunk to excess” on the night of the attack, he also acknowledged it was “no excuse” for his actions.

“I did not think I was capable of behaving the way I did but have had to face up to it and take responsibility,” Bowes-Lyon said. “This has involved seeking and receiving professional help as well as agreeing to plead guilty as quickly as possible.”

“My apologies go, above all, to the woman concerned, but I would also like to apologize to family, friends and colleagues for the distress I have caused them,” Bowes-Lyon added.

Bowes-Lyon is a great-great nephew of the Queen Mother, who died in 2002 at the age of 101. She grew up at Glamis Castle, as it was her childhood home. The Queen herself has yet to comment on Bowes-Lyon’s crime, and on his release from prison.

Bowes-Lyon has also been placed on the sex offender registry in the United Kingdom.