Covert Journos 'Bribe' Way Into Queen's Palace

News of the World reporters ushered in sans security check
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted May 24, 2009 10:00 AM CDT
Covert Journos 'Bribe' Way Into Queen's Palace
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, centre, front, poses with members of the Order of Merit, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace in London, Wednesday May 20, 2009.    (AP Photo/John Stillwell, pool)

In an exposé operation, undercover reporters were allowed into “sensitive” sections of Buckingham Palace, the BBC reports. The News of the World journalists reportedly paid a chauffeur at the palace $1,600 for a tour; dressed as Middle Eastern businessmen, they were ushered in without security checks and one was allowed to sit in the queen’s car. The chauffeur has been suspended and palace authorities say they’re looking into the matter.

The reporters “should have been checked as they walked in but they weren't and therefore it could easily have been a terrorist walking into the palace and planting a bomb in the car, rather than the News of the World exposing the poor security of the palace,” said a News of the World editor.

(More Britain stories.)

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