Inquiry after tourists breach castle security

An inquiry was launched today after two intruders nearly reached the Queen's bedroom window at Windsor Castle.

A security alert was sparked days before the royal wedding when two Polish tourists were stopped by police after climbing the perimeter fence and breaching castle grounds while the Queen was in residence.

They walked unchallenged for nearly a mile across a golf course outside the castle grounds before scaling the fence.

An armed officer was reportedly missing from a permanent guard post where the Queen's apartments begin. The men bypassed the post and nearly managed to reach the window.

Police were unaware of the intruders until they were caught on CCTV cameras at 7pm on Sunday-Met police officers confronted the pair and asked them why they were trespassing.

They were then questioned further before being sent back to the public area of the castle without being arrested.

Two armed officers were believed to be blaming each other over the embarrassing incident which has highlighted security concerns surrounding-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles's wedding reception at the castle.

A police source said: "A long-serving Windsor Castle protection officer is saying he arranged to get off duty two hours earlier and swapped with a colleague. But the other officer denies that."

Another officer was carpeted three weeks ago for deserting the same position. Pc David Turner left the security hut to get a Mother's Day card.

A police spokeswoman said of the latest incident: "The two men entered the private area of the Windsor Castle estate and were detected. They were monitored until officers detained them. The secure area of the castle was not breached at any stage."

The spoke swoman added: "An internal inquiry is under way to establish the facts of the incident."