Intruder report 'in four weeks'

The full inquiry into the Windsor Castle security fiasco will be completed within four weeks, the Home Secretary told MPs today.

David Blunkett offered his "deep regret" to the Royal Family after gatecrasher Aaron Barschak was able to walk into Prince William's 21st birthday party dressed as Osama bin Laden.

The Home Secretary told the Commons that he intended to make public the inquiry being led by Commander Frank Armstrong of the City of London Police.

"Mr Barschak was able to get unacceptably close to Prince William," said Mr Blunkett.

"Mr Barschak's actions have exposed an appalling failure in the security at Windsor Castle which simply should not have happened.

"I am determined that the lessons should be learned from this incident."

Mr Armstrong's inquiry would "determine conclusively what went wrong on the night" and whether anyone needed to be disciplined, he added.

The Home Secretary at times struggled to keep a straight face during a barrage of jibes from MPs.

At one point he had to interject: "Actually, Mr Speaker, it's quite serious."

Report to be published

He went on: "This report will be available in the next four weeks. It is my intention to publish the report."

Mr Blunkett has already warned anti-terror chiefs that their "heads are on the block" after the security fiasco during Saturday's celebrations involving the entire Royal Family, including the Queen and Prince of Wales, at Windsor Castle.

Comedian and actor Mr Barschak, 36, of north London, claims he kissed William on both cheeks before party organisers became suspicious.

Mr Blunkett said: "My particular concerns are that this very serious breach of security occurred despite extensive security and surveillance measures."

Police apology

Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir John Stevens personally apologised to the Royal Family and said his officers had been left "devastated" by the breach at the Out of Africa themed party.

Sir John said: "It's my job to make sure that what happened at the weekend never happens again."

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin called for a minister responsible for homeland security to be introduced because the incident had acted as an "important metaphor for wider failure".

Blaming human error was not enough because a fail-safe system should have been put in place, he said.

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