Queen was in residence at time of 22-year-old suspected trespasser’s arrest

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A man has been arrested after climbing the front gates of Buckingham Palace.

He was held on suspicion of trespass at about 2am on Wednesday by specialist royal police officers, the Metropolitan police said. The man was later released under investigation.

The Queen was in residence at the time, a palace spokeswoman said. She declined to say whether the monarch had been informed. The intruder was not carrying any weapons and the incident is not being treated as terror related, Scotland Yard said.

The intruder, who tried to get inside the palace, was on the loose in the grounds for about four minutes before he was apprehended, the Sun reported.

At their lowest point, the gates are still several metres high.

The 22-year-old man remains in custody at a nearby police station in central London.

A Met spokeswoman said: “The 22-year-old man was arrested at approximately 2am on Wednesday 10 July by officers from the Met’s royalty and specialist protection command after he climbed over the front gates at Buckingham Palace.”

The force declined to say whether there would be a review of security after the incident.

Later on Wednesday, the Queen carried out a full series of engagements at the palace, including presenting the Queen’s medal for music to the jazz musician Gary Crosby.

She also received the bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham Usher, and three newly appointed ambassadors, as well as the new British high commissioner to New Zealand.

The Queen held a council at 5.30pm, attended by the cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, Damian Hinds, Mel Stride and Greg Clark. She also had her regular meeting with Theresa May on Wednesday evening.

The arrest is the latest in a series of security breaches at the palace, including one last year when a homeless man was found sleeping in the grounds.

In September 2013, a security review was launched after an intruder was able to scale a fence and get inside the palace before being arrested.

In 1982, Michael Fagan evaded guards to get inside the Queen’s private chambers while she was in bed.