Buckingham Palace suffered an undercover security breach in 2003, when a reporter posing as a royal footman gained access to the everyday lives of some of Britain’s most senior royals. The bogus servant had access to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Prince Andrew’s private apartments in the Palace, and a visiting Princess Anne. Channel 5 documentary “Royal Scandals”, which first aired in April, heard from royal experts on the debacle.
Royal author Kate Nicholl explained: “The reporter faked a CV, bogus references, and somehow managed to elude royal security and all of the checks that surely go with applying for a job in the household.”
Journalist Ryan Parry answered a job advert for the position, and underwent three interviews before being granted “unlimited access” to the Palace.
Ms Nicholl continued: “For the Daily Mirror this was a massive coup, revealing the most astonishing details about the domestic lives of the Royal Family.
“He revealed these fascinating details of breakfast with the royals, the Queen feeding her corgis marmalade and toast underneath the table.”
Queen Elizabeth II and "fake footman" Ryan Parry (Image: Getty)
Ryan PArry managed to work in the Palace for two months (Image: Getty/Channel 5)
Photos of the Queen and Prince Philip’s breakfast table memorably emerged, with Parry revealing that he had been issued with a detailed plan of her breakfast table, setting out the exact positions of every utensil, condiment and cereal.
Editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward commented: “[The public] all thought the Queen would be eating off gold plates, and the idea
