Buckingham Castle intruder Michael Fagan: what happened and exactly why performed he break in?

On the 9 July 1982, 31-year-old painter and you will Castle and made his treatment for the fresh new Queen’s bedroom, with what are one of the primary royal safeguards breaches of the latest twentieth century. The fresh new extraordinary episode including function in the 12 months cuatro of your own Top – here, Charlotte Hodgman, publisher of BBC History Revealed, teaches you exactly what extremely took place…

Once the Britain’s longest-reigning monarch – a guideline from 68 decades and you may depending – it’s fair to say that Queen Elizabeth II has actually probably viewed everything. Best ministers have come and gone; the royal friends in itself features experienced scandal and you will department; matches into both a personal and you can around the globe level was basically battled, won and you will destroyed. But in 1982, not long immediately following honoring her 56th birthday, the new King turned into swept up in one of the really bizarre – and you may incredible – attacks away from the woman leadership. An event who would safe an added background as a whole of the biggest royal cover breaches of the 20th millennium.

Buckingham Palace burglar Michael Fagan: what happened and exactly why performed he break in?

Around 6.45am to your nine July 1982, 31-year-dated artist and you will Palace’s 14ft edge wall space, precariously navigated the barbed wire and you will spiked crown, fell unofficially – and you will unnoticed – towards the palace grounds and you will tried, unsuccessfully, to view the new wide castle owing to a ground flooring windows.

Immediately following shinning up a good drainpipe, Fagan, who afterwards admitted to presenting imbibed several cups of whisky just before enacting the new audacious stunt, eliminated his clothes and sandals prior to going into the castle because of an unlocked windows.