Prince Charles is demanding that the British army take over guarding the royal palaces from Scotland Yard, the Times daily reported yesterday.
The heir to the throne has lost patience with the London police after three serious breaches of palace security since June last year. The most recent incident occurred Monday when a fathers' rights activist held a protest on the facade of Buckingham Palace adjacent to the main balcony where the crowds watched Charles kiss Diana after their fairy tale wedding in July 1981.
According to the Times, the prince now wants troops to take over protection duties at all the royal residences and has backing from some senior officers with London's Metropolitan Police, which is currently responsible.
Charles had told friends he thought some members of the royal protection squad, which was set up in 1982 when Michael Fagan broke into the queen's bedroom, had become complacent, the Times said.
It predicted that to provide round-the-clock security the Ministry of Defense would have to assign more than one battalion, 650 to 700 soldiers.
In November last year a tabloid reporter secured a job as a Buckingham Palace footman and had access to the apartments used by George W. Bush immediately before the US president arrived on a state visit.
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