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Heads must roll over this shocking lapse
NO PASS: Andy
THE Queen will be rightly horrified at this appalling failure of royal security.
It shows she and her family are in grave danger.
If a terrorist wanted to plant a bomb in her limo, we have shown that they can. If a terrorist wanted to blow up part of Buckingham Palace-as iconic a symbol for our country as the Twin Towers were to America-we have shown they can.
I am totally amazed by this breach. I believed that, after all the Palace blunders in the past, royal security chiefs had finally learnt their lesson and cracked it.
New tougher rules were introduced six years ago when a journalist sparked a major alert after securing a job as a palace footman using false references.
In the wake of the scandal, a new royal security chief-Brigadier General Jeffrey Cook-was appointed to work alongside Scotland Yard.
A Security Commission report called for wider checks on job applicants after highlighting lapses that could be exploited by terrorists.
Rules
Now EVERYONE entering the palace has to show a staff or temporary pass. The new rules meant royals-including the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles-have to carry and show photographic ID every time they enter a royal residence. Plus everyone entering palace grounds is supposed to be cleared by a unformed officer.
Recently Prince Andrew was initially denied entry to Sandringham after failing to show his pass. And Angela Kelly, the Queen's closest personal aide, was left fuming last year when a cop refused her access to the palace because she forgot her identity badge.
This security crackdown was rightly imposed amid MI5 concerns the royals faced an increased risk of terror attack. As head of state and Commander in Chief of British forces, the Queen is regarded as a prime target for al-Qaeda-as are serving officers William and Harry. Protecting the royals costs the taxpayer multi-millions of pounds-but, as we have proved today, it isn't money well spent.
The system still isn't working and heads must roll.
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This article has 3 comments
Buckingham Palace is far, far more iconic and culturally important to y'all than the World Trade Center ever was to us Yanks. They were impressive from an engineering perspective, but frankly pretty ugly in the way that 1960's and 1970's architecture could be. That is not to say that al Qaeda's destruction of them was not an outrage, just that they were two of many skyscrapers in NY.
More apt analogies would be the White House or Independence Hall in Philly, or perhaps the NY Stock Exchange. These would be analogies only...there's only one Buck'ham Palace, and only one Queen. Those who say "who cares, the royalty is a drain anyway" are missing the mark by miles. Like it or not, it would be a humiliation of the highest order if al Qaeda or other baddies kidnapped or beheaded one or more of your royals. Wishing the problem away won't make it so.
By Mark Donehy. Posted May 25 2009 at 12:09 PM.
I agree with the first comment, I just don't care about this privileged and pampered royals any more. As for saying money not well spent because the so called security failed. Well let her and the rest of the spongers pay their own way they are stinking rich. Do not forget the enormous sums of tax-payers money accumulated due to non-payment of tax for more than three decades. Moreover, Prince Arrogant Andrew and his £6,000 helicopter jaunt for a golfing day from Windsor to Shoreham, when the first class rail fare was £90. Return cheque needed SAP to the British exchequer. You may be flush with millions in cash but we are not and in case you do not know it the country is broke.Last year the royals security cost the British tax-payer in excess of £30,million. To paraphrase the TV advert, "...because theyre just NOT worth it".And blinkered prejudiced royal toadies don't make any excuses for them - like so many in the British media.Get real.
By William Gladys. Posted May 24 2009 at 2:45 PM.
You know, I don't care, I just don't care, they are not bothered about us behind their closed doors, they live in luxury and we, well more of us than not live in awful conditions sometimes and struggle so much to make ends meet that I know they have no idea of how things really are for us the Peasants, isn't that what a young Peter Phillips called us all many years ago, well he never got that from NOT hearing it said by a adult and the adults he was around were the Royals!
By Annie. Posted May 24 2009 at 8:47 AM.