Crashing The Royal Party

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Has Britain lost its memory? Last week an intruder wearing a pink ball gown and fake beard and calling himself Osama bin Laden managed to gate-crash Prince William's 21st-birthday bash at Windsor Castle. Aspiring comedian Aaron Barschak managed to kiss the Prince on both cheeks and head for the bar before being nabbed by police. Home Secretary David Blunkett ordered an urgent inquiry into the "appalling breach" in security; Britons were aghast. But the real wonder is why anyone was surprised at all. Despite the millions of dollars a year British taxpayers pay to protect the royals, such lapses are an annual event, with more than 20 intrusions in the past two decades. Here's a look at the most memorable breaches.

June 1981 Three German tourists climb over the walls and camp overnight on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, believing it to be Hyde Park. After breakfast on the lawn, they are finally apprehended when they ask a gardener for the exit. Police announce a security review, but add, reassuringly, that the campers would have been discovered earlier if they hadn't stayed so close to the wall.

July 1982 Michael Fagan breaks into the Queen's bedroom at Buckingham Palace. Police ignore a phone call for help, so the Queen chats with him for 10 minutes before alerting staff. Home Secretary William Whitelaw announces a "major shake-up" in palace security. Members of the opposition Labour Party call Whitelaw's comment that the incident represented a serious failure in security arrangements "the understatement of the year."

January 1994 Cambodian student David Kang runs toward Prince Charles and fires two shots from a starting pistol at an event in Sydney. Charles displays considerable sangfroid as his would-be assailant is wrestled to the ground a meter away from him. He maintains that security was "well handled" by Australian police.

February 1994 American prankster James Miller paraglides onto the roof of Buckingham Palace, then strips to reveal that below the waist he's wearing only a coat of green paint. Scotland Yard say the incident doesn't raise concerns over security, as he was arrested "within minutes."

December 2002 A drunken reveler gets into St. James's Palace — the home of Prince Charles — but is reportedly only arrested when he knocks on the door to Princess Anne's apartments to ask the way to the nearest train station. Police say there was no danger to the royal family, but launch an inquiry into the breach.