Buckingham Castle burglar Michael Fagan: what happened and why did he break in?

For the nine July 1982, 31-year-old artist and you may Palace and made their cure for the brand new Queen’s room, in what try one of the greatest regal protection breaches out of the fresh 20th millennium. The new over the top event plus element in 12 months cuatro of one’s Top – right here, Charlotte Hodgman, editor of BBC Records Revealed, shows you what most took place…

Since the Britain’s longest-reigning monarch – a rule out-of 68 age and you will relying – it’s fair to say that King Elizabeth II provides most likely seen it-all. Prime ministers attended and moved; the brand new regal relatives itself have experienced scandal and you will department; battles with the both an individual and international top had been fought, won and you will forgotten. But in 1982, soon immediately after honoring this lady 56th birthday celebration, the newest King turned embroiled within the extremely bizarre – and shocking – periods out-of her rule. A meeting that would safe an added records as a whole of the most important regal cover breaches of your twentieth millennium.

Buckingham Castle burglar Michael Fagan: how it happened and why did the guy break in?

At about six.45am for the nine July 1982, 31-year-old painter and Palace’s 14ft edge walls, precariously navigated the barbed-wire and spiked crown, fell quietly – and unnoticed – to the palace grounds and you will tried, unsuccessfully, to access the fresh greater castle courtesy a ground floor screen.

Shortly after shinning up a good drainpipe, Fagan, exactly who afterwards admitted to having imbibed multiple cups of whisky prior to enacting the audacious stunt, got rid of his clothes and you can sandals in advance of entering the castle through a keen unlocked window. Immediately following crushing – and you may happen to cutting their hand for the – a glass ashtray, that he meant to used to slashed using pigeon netting toward the brand new roof as he exited the structure, a great bleeding Fagan, however clutching fragments off mug, first started drifting the brand new blank corridors. (suite…)

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