Mirror exposes serious flaws in Buckingham Palace security

A Daily Mirror investigative journalist has sparked a furious row today after revealing serious flaws in royal protection and the level of security surrounding VIPs and foreign dignitaries visiting Buckingham Palace.

Reporter Ryan Parry spent two months undercover in the Queen's London residence – employed on the basis of a CV littered with inaccuracies and untruths – which gave him direct access all the senior royals.

Writing in today's Daily Mirror, Mr Parry described how he had watched, alone from a palace stateroom, the Queen and Prince Philip receive President Bush and the First Lady as they arrived on the first day of their state visit late last night. He believes that, as a result of persistant of security failures, a terrorist in his position would have been presented with a significant opportunity of attacking both heads of state.

There will be consternation at the highest levels that security arrangements could be so easily breached by a 26-year-old former barman with a cobbled CV and whose identity as a journalist could have been uncovered by a cursory search on the internet.

It has cost the taxpayer in excess of £5 million to supply security during the three-day state visit – which involves 14,000 officers, police sharp shooters and 250 US secret service agents.

Employed as footman in the royal household since September, the journalist left the palace late last night – shortly after the presidential entourage arrived.

Mr Parry recounted how on numerous occasions he had access to the royals' private quarters, even preparing and serving food to the Queen and other senior members of the household. Rarely searched, he claimed that his fake references were never checked.

The furore surrounding the security breach is a further embarrassment for authorities after self-styled 'comedy terrorist' Aaron Barschak gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle last June disguised as Osama bin Laden.

Mr Baschak breached the police cordon, mingled with VIP guests and stood next to the Prince. An subsequent inquiry into the security lapse was severely critical of the Metropolitan police for the "series of errors" which allowed Barschak to intrude on the party unchallenged.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is due to make a statement to Parliament today over Daily Mirror's revelations.

(gmcg)