Buckingham Palace arrest: Man detained in grounds after scaling perimeter wall

'I am content that our security measures worked effectively on this occasion and at no time was any individual at risk'

Queens guards march outside Buckingham Palace (Getty)

A 41-year-old man has been arrested after scaling a perimeter wall at Buckingham Palace, Scotland Yard has said.

The unidentified intruder entered the restricted area at 8.37pm last night.

Commander Adrian Usher, head of the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection, said: "I am content that our security measures worked effectively on this occasion and at no time was any individual at risk."

A police statement added that the man was not armed and a taser was not used by officers.

He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site seven minutes after the alarm was activated. He remains in custody.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "We never comment on security, which is a matter for police."

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were likely to have been at home in the Palace on Wednesday after attending the State Opening of Parliament earlier that day.

A former royal protection officer praised the Met Police for their "quick response". Dai Davies said: "He was caught by the police very quickly and the system seems to have worked, which is the main thing.

"Depending on where he went, seven minutes doesn't appear to be a huge amount of time, considering the grounds had to be searched."

He commended the police for their efforts and said: "It's a job well done from me to the Met Police."

Detectives continue inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.