Intruder breaks into Buckingham Palace while the Queen sleeps

An intruder has broken into Buckingham Palace in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Queen was asleep just metres away during what has been called a "major security breach".

A man reportedly climbed over the front gates of the palace, banging down the doors of the royal residence.

The 22-year-old man is believed to have scaled the front gates of the palace entrance by The Mall.

A source has told Express it took around four minutes for police to apprehend the man during which they tried to assess if he was carrying weapons.

There has been speculation the intruder was attempting to replicate Michael Fagan, a man who broke into the Queen's bedroom almost 37 years ago.

Metropolitan Police say they arrested a man on suspicion of trespass, contrary to section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

They released the following statement: "Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of trespass, contrary to section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

"The 22-year-old man was arrested at approximately 02:00hrs on Wednesday, 10 July by officers from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command after he climbed over the front gates at Buckingham Palace.

"The man was not found in possession of any offensive weapons and the incident is not being treated as terrorist-related.

"He remains in custody at a central London police station."

Buckingham Palace is yet to comment on the matter.

A royal insider has told The Sun the intruder was in the palace unrestricted for several minutes.

“There was an intruder at the Palace while the Queen lay sleeping in her bedroom and he was on the loose for a good few minutes before the cops arrested him.

“He was determined to get inside the palace and was banging down the doors but, thank goodness, this time everything was locked up.”

The source says the intruder was detained under the mental health act.

“The police eventually detained him under the mental health act, but they have to ask some serious questions about how he got on and how he had so long to roam free," the source says.

“How is it possible all these years later that someone can climb the fence and get right inside the grounds without being stopped immediately? What about heat censors and CCTV? The Queen’s safety should be paramount.”

The Queen had just returned home from a trip to Cambridge when the incident took place.

“But everyone knows the Queen was there because the Royal Standard was flying. It’s very strange given the infamous Fagan business nearly 37 years ago," the source says.

“We are all relieved that the doors were locked this time and he wasn’t able to get inside where the Queen was.”

In 1982, Michael Fagan broke into the palace at 7.15am on July 9, climbing the walls of the residence and entering the Queen's bedroom.

The 31-year-old schizophrenic then began talking to her about his family problems.

The Queen pushed the panic button next to her bed but received no response, and was forced to call the palace switchboard but the operator thought it was a practical joke.

During the incident Fagan smashed a large glass ashtray and threatened to slash his wrists.

The Queen was rescued when she was spotted by butler Paul Whybrew who was returning from walking the corgis. He was able to get Fagan out of the room before police arrived.