THE Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, has been revealed to be “wide open” to a potential terrorist attack after an investigation by The Sunday Times.

Just 72 hours before a visit by the Prince of Wales, a reporter without any identification was able to gain access to the palace’s private rooms. He wandered past the Queen’s bedroom and obtained plans of a private wing of the palace.

It follows a series of embarrassing security breaches involving royal residences and the Palace of Westminster. Two weeks ago, a Fathers 4 Justice campaigner dressed as Batman scaled the front of Buckingham Palace and, two days later, five pro-hunt protesters invaded the debating chamber of the House of Commons.

Our inquiries, prompted by concerns about security flaws at the Edinburgh palace, found:

• A reporter was able to walk around the private rooms of the palace without being challenged for 20 minutes.
• During an official tour of the building, open to the public, the reporter was able to walk into private rooms adjacent to the Queen’s apartments without being spotted.
• Architect’s plans of a private wing of the building were found unguarded and were photographed.
• When the reporter was finally told he needed a security pass, he was able to leave the palace without being detained.

Security experts said the investigation highlighted serious failings in security. David Capitanchik, a terrorism expert at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, described palace security as “wide open” and said it was particularly worrying that plans of a private area could be obtained so easily.

He said: “It’s no excuse to say that security would have been tighter when the royal family are in residence. The palace is susceptible to a Brighton bombing-style attack, in which a terrorist was able to build a bomb into a wall (in advance).”

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, where Prince Charles is in residence this weekend, was founded by David I as an Augustinian monastery in 1128. Mary, Queen of Scots spent some of her turbulent life in the palace and Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed there during his attempt to reclaim the throne for his father.

The biggest room in the palace is the Great Gallery — used for receptions, state occasions and investitures — which houses 89 of the 110 Jacob de Wet portraits of real and legendary kings of Scotland.

The private quarters are less grand and are currently undergoing renovation. A reporter was able to wander around these areas last week.

Equipped with a Scotland guidebook and a digital camera, the reporter last Wednesday paid £8 for an official tour of the palace. Trailing at the back of the party, he was able to do a detailed reconnaissance of which exits were likely to lead to the private apartments.

The next day he returned with a rucksack concealing a hard hat and clipboard. The rucksack was not searched or put through a metal detector machine. In the central courtyard, the reporter was able to walk through an open door leading to the private apartments. He had put on the hard hat but had no identification.

He walked around the private area for 20 minutes, peering out of windows, taking photographs of plans and scrutinising the ongoing work. He walked past a number of workers and even stepped over one who was taking measurements.

Moving towards the roof of the palace, he entered a wood-panelled room. He was finally challenged by a worker who said: “Who are you with? I wasn’t told of anyone being on site today.”

When he was asked to produce his pass, the reporter replied he did not have one. He was told he would have to be escorted to security to obtain one.

As the worker and the reporter walked back towards the public area, the reporter said he wished to go to the toilet. He then went into the grounds of the palace, through the public area and out into the street.

The Sunday Times subsequently informed Lothian and Borders police that the “intruder” who had breached the palace’s security was an undercover journalist. The reporter agreed to meet officers the following day.

Menzies Campbell, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said there needed to be tougher controls over access to sensitive public buildings. “It is a matter of increasing concern that public buildings which ought to be secure can be subject to incidents of this kind. We all have to accept that freedom of access of the kind previously enjoyed is going to have to be restricted,” he said.

A Home Office spokeswoman said royal security will be tightened. She said: “We will ensure any necessary action is taken following this incident.”

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