Chauffeur suspended in royal security breach

A chauffeur to the British royal family has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations he allowed undercover reporters into Buckingham Palace in exchange for money, a palace spokeswoman said today.

The pair, posing as wealthy Middle Eastern businessmen, were allowed in the building without security checks.

A palace spokeswoman said: “We can confirm an individual has been suspended pending an investigation.”

The News of the World reported driver Brian Sirjusingh was paid £1,000 (€1,140) by its reporters in exchange for access to the building.

Once inside, he showed them several vehicles used by members of the royal family and allowed one reporter to sit in a Bentley used to transport the Queen on state occasions.

This is not the first time security has been breached at the palace.

A Daily Mirror journalist managed to get a job as a footman in 2003.

The most serious breach came in March 1982 when Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom at the palace. She woke to find him sitting on her bed.