Two men have been arrested after a trespassing and burglary incident at Buckingham Palace — the official residence of the British monarch — the most serious security breaches at the building in decades.
British authorities said on Saturday that the shocking break-in took place on Monday night in which at least one man climbed a wall and kicked open a door to gain entry to the high-security palace.
The man evaded at least three layers of security to make his way into the palace in what appears to be the worst breach of its security since 1982 when Michael Fagan was arrested in the Queen’s bedroom after she raised an alarm.
The palace is filled with magnificent paintings, sculpture and antique furniture. It is also the administrative centre for the British royal household.
Police said the man was found “in an area currently open to the public during the day” and arrested for burglary, trespass and criminal damage.
They said a second man was arrested outside the palace for conspiracy to commit burglary following the incident.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said both men have now been bailed.
“A review of the specific circumstances of this incident is being carried out. No member of the Royal Family was at Buckingham Palace at the time of the incident,” they said.
Buckingham Palace has not yet commented on the incident.
The Queen has been spending her summer break at Balmoral Castle since the beginning of August and is not expected to return to the palace until October.
The security scare at Buckingham Palace is the latest in a series of incidents involving the Royal Family.
In March 2011, a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall was mobbed by demonstrators who had split from a protest against higher university tuition fees.
Mrs. Camilla was visibly distressed after being poked in the ribs with a stick through an open window in the distinctive Rolls-Royce Phantom VI as she and Charles travelled to the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium.
In 2003, comedian Aaron Barschak managed to get into Prince William’s 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.
The self-styled ‘comedy terrorist’ set off a series of alarms and was caught on CCTV before he joined 300 guests at the bash and was removed.
