Sack threat over royal fiasco

Senior police officers in charge of security at Windsor Castle are facing the sack today after the latest fiasco there.

The head of Royalty Protection, Commander Peter Loughborough, may be moved to other duties.

Scotland Yard chief Sir Ian Blair is said to be furious over the debacle that occurred three days before the royal wedding when an undercover reporter and a photographer drove a van into the centre of the castle with a box in the back marked "BOMB".

Sir Ian is said to be particularly angry that police manning checkpoints waved the vehicle through without carrying out basic security procedures. The reporter and photographer drove past St George's Chapel - where the wedding of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles is due to be blessed on Saturday - while the Queen was in residence.

Sir Ian has ordered an inquiry into the breach which is expected to be conducted by a high-ranking Yard officer.

One senior officer said: "This has happened once too often now. We have had inquiries into previous security failures. How many more times does this happen? This is very serious."

Commander Loughborough is expected to be in the firing line. He was in charge of the protection squad when "comedy terrorist" Aaron Barschak breached security at Prince William's 21st birthday party at the castle in 2003. However, he survived because he had only recently been appointed to the role.

Other officers in charge of Windsor Castle security yesterday are expected to be moved to other duties.

The journalists drove through barriers at the castle in a hired van, wearing fake overalls and brandishing a bogus delivery note. In the back of the van was a brown box marked "bomb", but royal protection squad officers failed to check.

When the pair arrived at the barriers of the Henry VIII gate, they were approached by one of three duty squad officers. They claimed they were there to deliver a PA system and showed a cargo note for a fake firm.

It was made out to the Royal Collection Enterprise based in the castle's Saxon Tower. The constable let the pair from The Sun through after getting no response to a radio check on whether the firm actually existed.

Then they drove unhindered past St George's Chapel and the Round Tower, where the royal standard was flying to show the Queen in residence.

They also stopped in front of the Norman Gate, the entrance to the state apartments.

A Windsor Castle source said: "I don't believe it. Every vehicle coming in should either have one of the new security passes or be expected and booked in."

A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said: "This apparent breach of security raises serious concerns. But it is only right that the facts are established before any action is taken against any personnel who may be culpable."

Police already fear a massive turnout for Saturday's wedding will cause chaos in the medieval centre of Windsor and a huge security headache. Officials are concerned "many thousands" more people will line the streets of the town than the 20,000 they had planned for if the ceremony was tomorrow.

They now believe there could be "meltdown" as the crowds pile in.

A programme of road closures has been put in place, but it may not be enough to prevent gridlock around a town already known for its congestion. Only a handful of extra train services have been laid on.

One local official said: "There is serious concern about whether the town centre will cope."

A massive exclusion zone is being drawn around the centre, and all roads around the castle will be closed from midnight tomorrow until 3.30pm on Saturday.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said 550 officers have been called in for the big day.

However, the Saturday rail service will barely be boosted. First Great Western will run three trains an hour - one more than normal - and make sure they are all three carriages long, meaning that at best they can move 2,400 people throughout the day.

South West Trains is not running any extra trains, but it will double the number of carriages on those that do run.

Swelled by dozens of foreign camera crews, hotel room occupancy is at an all-time high, and thousands of additional tourists have arrived this week.

Paul Roach, Windsor and Eton town manager, said: "The police have told us that they have no idea how many people will turn up.

"They have found it very difficult to estimate because this wedding is an unknown quantity."