Pitchfork Intruder At Prince Charles' Home
Prince Charles' office confirmed a report Wednesday that an intruder armed with a pitchfork broke into his country estate and was arrested.
The Daily Mail newspaper, which said Charles and his wife, Camilla, were asleep inside the house at the time, reported that the man evaded security at the Highgrove estate, 75 miles west of London, before being detained by police on Tuesday.
"It did happen, and it's a matter for the police," said a spokeswoman for Prince Charles, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with royal policy.
A spokeswoman for Gloucester Police said a 55-year-old man from Bristol, western England, had been arrested for trespassing and released on bail.
"He was detained within the grounds and did not gain access to any buildings," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with force policy.
A reporter for the Daily Mirror tabloid infiltrated the staff at Buckingham Palace in 2003, gaining direct access to the residence's guest quarters on the day President Bush visited.
In 2004, a man posing as a senior police officer gained easy access to Windsor Castle, but was caught red-handed in the middle of his hoax when he called the real police to mischievously report that a friend of the royal family had gotten lost on the grounds. He was seen by police on a closed circuit television feed making the phone call.