Illegal worker served Royals after Palace's permit error

A Russian footman was employed illegally for almost two years at Buckingham Palace after Royal staff bungled his work permit application - despite a seven-month security check.

During his Royal service, Igor Golovanov, 32, from Moscow, waited on the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and worked at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor Castle and Sandringham, according to the Sun.

His contract was terminated by the Royal household when it was discovered staff had failed to apply for a new work permit for him.

Mr Golovanov said: "Now I am likely to be forced out of the UK because of their negligence. I thought my employment would be examined very closely."

Mr Golovanov came to Britain in 2000 on a student visa to study hospitality at Bournemouth University. He took up a trainee post with a hotel and was granted a work permit for that job.

In January 2006 he was given the job as a footman, and says he told Royal staff to apply on his behalf for a new permit but heard nothing further. After seven months of security checks, he began work in October 2006.

The bungle came to light when he told the Royal household he wanted to turn his visa into permanent residence, and was told he had violated his visa.

A Palace statement said: "Full procedures were not followed in submitting a change of employer application. The error was identified and his contract has been terminated."