- Buckingham Palace asked for plans to be kept secret
- William and Kate to move into new apartment next year
- Dirty bomb-proof double door and CCTV system are being fitted as security is beefed up
By
Rob Cooper
Last updated at 6:49 PM on 5th January 2012
Prince William and Kate Middleton were at the centre of a safety scare tonight as it emerged a council is giving the public access to security plans for Kensington Palace.
Despite the local authority being asked to keep the documents secret, anyone can request access to them.
New security measures are being introduced at the Palace before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge move into a new apartment late next year.
Security scare: Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to move into an apartment at Kensington Palace late next year
A former head of the Metropolitan Police
Royal Protection Squad said it was ‘unbelievable’ the plans were being
put on public display.
The royal household are currently seeking planning permission to carry out the work.
The work includes fitting a dirty bomb proof air-lock double door to prevent intruders, rising bollards and a CCTV system.
Former Scotland Yard protection officer Dai Davies told the Evening Standard: ‘I’m speechless that lessons have still not been learned by those responsible for their security. It beggars belief at the level of incompetence by those who purport to be experts in security.
Security measures: Work is being carried out at Kensington Palace to beef up protection
‘The problem you have got is not just terrorists, it’s “fixated persons”.
‘There is a list at Scotland Yard of people who have an unhealthy interest in the royal family. You wouldn’t want someone like that getting hold of it.”
Roy Brown from the Buckingham Palace property department wrote to the council that they did not want the plans to be made available for the public to see.
‘We would appreciate if this application could be treated as
confidential and not be allowed to enter the public domain, owing to the
nature of the works and their location,’ he said in a letter.
William and Kate already have a temporary home within the grounds of the residence where Princess Margaret used to live.
They will move into apartment 1A next year.
New home: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will move into apartment 1A at the Palace in late 2013
Anyone who wants to view the documents must request a meeting with officials at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council.
They will be required to produce a passport or driving licence before they see the documents at Kensington town hall and will not be allowed to make any copies.
A spokesman for council said: ‘We have followed the rules and the documents have not been put on our website.
‘Anyone who wants to see the documents will have to ring up in advance and arrange an appointment and must produce identification.
‘They won’t be allowed to make any copies and will be supervised at all times.
‘It is being done so residents and other interested parties can see the proposals and comment on them in the usual way for an application.’
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace refused to comment tonight.
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It’s not just them that are at risk is it because Charles and Camilla reside there too.- Gem ———————————————— Perhaps you ought to brush up on your royal family. Charles and Camilla live at Clarence House, the late Queen mothers old home.
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Surely there is enough security at KP already.! All we hear is about money being spent from the public purse,and it does grate rather a little to say the least.? – Rod ————————————– You like me read it all wrong you see. Waity Dolittle gets no money from the public purse, father in law and hubby pay for it all. I think the waity fans forgot about this bit of the public purse!
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The palace should have ORDERED the council to withhold access to the plans
( under the official secrets act if necessary )
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There are many idiots who despise royalty and hence why this is done.
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It’s not just them that are at risk is it because Charles and Camilla reside there too.
– Gem,
mr and mrs Wales do not live at KP……they live at Clarence House………..
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sack the person at the council that allowed this to happen
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Surely there is enough security at KP already.!
All we hear is about money being spent from the public purse,and it does grate rather a little to say the least.?
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That is really clever. You make the headline about “fears ” for their safety and then proceed to tell your readers all the plans yourself. How hypocritical is that.
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This story does not surprise me in the least!
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Total and utter stupidity, worthy of the worst jobsworth and that’s saying something when it comes to local authorities.
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