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Buckingham Palace Security Guards Mistook Prince Andrew for Just Some Guy
New York Magazine ^ | 9/8 | Delia Paunescu

Posted on 09/08/2013 4:54:35 PM PDT by nickcarraway

On Monday, Buckingham Palace had its biggest security breach in 30 years — a man scaled a 12-foot fence and meandered into the State Rooms before he was noticed — and it seems the security guards there were still on high alert on Wednesday. So, when two officers spotted a man they didn't recognize wandering the palace garden, they rushed over to demand identification and ordered him to "put your hands up and get on the ground." While that's generally good, if forceful, practice when it comes to palace guarding, the man they confronted turned out be Queen Elizabeth's other son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

A palace source told the Sunday Express, "It's fair to say that to describe the Duke as unhappy and the two officers as highly embarrassed is the biggest understatement of the century." She added, "There is a high turnover of the police on duty at the Palace, but you’d think anyone would know what Prince Andrew looks like." At least anyone who works at the palace.

Prince Andrew was reportedly "livid" after having his leisurely stroll interrupted, and we imagine he admonished the security guards as only a true royal can. But, for his official statement, the Duke went with, "The police have a difficult job to do balancing security for the royal family and deterring intruders, and sometimes they get it wrong. I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future." So, we're going to assume no one lost their heads over the incident.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; royalfamily; theroyals
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1 posted on 09/08/2013 4:54:35 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

It could be worse: He could live under despotism in New York city.


2 posted on 09/08/2013 4:59:41 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (What do we want? Time travel. When do we want it? It's irrelevant.)
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To: nickcarraway

Maybe not their heads but I’m betting they lost their jobs.


3 posted on 09/08/2013 5:00:16 PM PDT by bgill (This reply was mined before it was posted.)
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To: nickcarraway

Do the Brits have a base at the South Pole?


4 posted on 09/08/2013 5:00:57 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: nickcarraway

Many Americans mistook a Chicago community organizer as presidential.


5 posted on 09/08/2013 5:00:59 PM PDT by Mark (Donate to FreeRepublic now.)
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To: bgill
That's certainly a CLM (Career Limiting Move).

/johnny

6 posted on 09/08/2013 5:03:16 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: nickcarraway

To the Tower with that lot!


7 posted on 09/08/2013 5:03:21 PM PDT by Ronin (Dumb, dependent and Democrat is no way to go through life - Rep. L. Gohmert, Tex)
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To: nickcarraway

I would think that the first step when you get a job like this would be to review pictures of the royal family very carefully.


8 posted on 09/08/2013 5:06:42 PM PDT by proxy_user
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To: proxy_user

Maybe the Queen told them to do it.


9 posted on 09/08/2013 5:07:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Did they shoot his dog too. ?


10 posted on 09/08/2013 5:08:07 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws - Tacituss)
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To: nickcarraway

What? They aren’t familiar with the HVT’s they protect?

How the hell does that happen?

Even I know what that dork looks like.

Still, if it happened to me, I’d be laughing my ass afterward and maybe send those guy’s for tea at the Savoy, maybe send em to that pub on the bwck end of the palace or send em over to The Ruebens and let em get completely bombed.

They would have an escort and a room on the 3rd floor overlooking the palace grounds.


11 posted on 09/08/2013 5:09:22 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: nickcarraway

You would think they would at least hesitate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Andrew,_Duke_of_York

He looks like a rather distinguished bloke. I don’t suppose he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, either.


12 posted on 09/08/2013 5:11:22 PM PDT by proxy_user
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To: bgill
Maybe not their heads but I’m betting they lost their jobs.

Which won't do much for security in the future.

13 posted on 09/08/2013 5:24:54 PM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: proxy_user

Wow, he IS looking OLD, though. He may have been difficult to recognize.


14 posted on 09/08/2013 5:30:46 PM PDT by madison10 (I miss America.)
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To: madison10

I think after a certain age, you probably shouldn’t be called “Prince”. “Backup King” would be better. It’s just embarrassing if you are over 60.


15 posted on 09/08/2013 5:39:05 PM PDT by Defiant (A rainbow curtain has descended upon the west, from Munich to San Francisco.)
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To: madison10

not aging well ...Looks older than 52 .


16 posted on 09/08/2013 6:16:57 PM PDT by sushiman
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To: nickcarraway

17 posted on 09/08/2013 6:35:20 PM PDT by Petrosius
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To: Vendome

apostrophe alert: the plural of a guy is guys, not guy’s.


18 posted on 09/08/2013 6:43:45 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: Defiant

He’s not the backup king. At this point, he’s fifth in line for the throne.


19 posted on 09/08/2013 6:45:01 PM PDT by kabumpo (Kabumpo)
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To: nickcarraway
"The police have a difficult job to do balancing security for the royal family and deterring intruders, and sometimes they get it wrong. I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future."

That, my FRiends, is class. It doesn't come with birth, it's earned.

20 posted on 09/08/2013 6:48:38 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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