Two men arrested over Buckingham Palace break-in
In a rare breach of royal security a suspected burglar scaled 12 floors while his accomplice waited on street
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London Metropolitan Police have confirmed the arrest of two men over a suspected break-in at Buckingham Palace on the evening of Monday 2 September.
Police said the suspect, who remains unidentified, was accosted in an area usually open to the public during the day, but did not specify in which of the building’s 775 rooms the man was found.
Various parts of the palace are open to visitors during summer, including the State Rooms, the Queen’s Gallery, the Royal Mews, and the Rose Garden.
The incident is one of the most high profile royal break-ins since intruder Michael Fagan managed to access the palace twice in 1982.
During his first uninvited call Fagan spent half an hour viewing royal portraits, sitting on the throne and eating crackers and cheese. On his next visit Fagan entered the Queen’s room and asked for a cigarette while she was in bed before being apprehended by security.
There was little chance of a royal meeting on Monday night.
The Queen is away in Balmoral Castle in Scotland and police stated that no other members of the Royal Family were present at the time of the intrusion.
The suspect found inside the palace on Monday was arrested on suspicion of burglary, trespassing and criminal damage.
Another man, thought to be an accomplice, was arrested outside the palace on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.