Government and palace launch probe into security lapse

Following revelations today exposing a serious lapse in security at Buckingham Palace, the government has said that it will launch an urgent review of royal security.

Home Secretary David Blunkett spoke of his "concerns" during a statement to the Commons today in relation to a Daily Mirror investigation which saw a reporter gain employment as a footman in the royal household for two months – despite his providing falsified references on his application. More embarrassing still, today's Daily Mirror exclusive coincided with the first state visit of a US president since 1918.

The journalist, Ryan Parry, claimed that lax security had allowed him direct access to senior royals, including the Queen, before he quit the palace last night. He had been scheduled to serve breakfast to US administration officials such as US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice today.

Mr Parry claimed that had a terrorist been admitted to the royal household in the manner that he had been, an assassination attempt could have been made on the Queen and President Bush with "absolute ease".

Mr Blunkett told MPs today that the Security Commission had been instructed to stage a full-scale investigation, while the palace authorities will also carry out their own review.

"One of the strengths of our democracy is that such breaches are open to scrutiny, that we can learn quickly from them, and that nothing is swept under the carpet," the Home Secretary told the House.

Opposition parties were highly critical of royal security, especially as recent reports indicated that London is now a likely target for terrorist attack.

Tory Shadow Home Secretary David Davis described the revelations as "grave and worrying".

"The potential consequences are obviously very serious. Important lessons should have been learnt after the security breach in Windsor Castle earlier this year," he said.

"All the available evidence suggests this is less a series of blunders than a potentially fatal weakness at the heart of security covering the head of state."

Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes, said that the breach was "deeply disturbing", and that Palace security must work alongside the Metropolitan Police to discover how such a worrying lapse could have happened.

He added: "When so much money and manpower has been spent on preventing any attempts by terrorists to attack the President of the United States while in London it is incredible that a journalist can sneak in through the tradesman’s entrance.

"Coming so soon after the break-in at Windsor Castle, an urgent investigation must be done to make sure that this never happens again."

The Metropolitan Police was strongly reprimanded after self-styled 'comedy terrorist' Aaron Barschak gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party in Windsor Castle last June.

(gmcg)