An intruder reportedly gained access to the House of Parliament and made it into the heart of the building before being stopped by a workman.
The trespasser made it into the grounds unchecked by evading armed police and round-the-clock guards, the Daily Mail reports.
Neither Scotland Yard or Parliament officials announced the security breach, raising accusations that it was ‘hushed up’ by authorities.
A man, not thought to be a protestor, was arrested and later charged with trespass over the break-in on a Sunday lunchtime last month.
It is said the intruder got into the estate by climbing over the roof of the Parliamentary Education Centre at the southern end of the palace.
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He then made it all the way to the historic reception venue within the House of Lords called the Cholmondeley Room.
He reportedly roamed unchallenged before a workman on the site spotted him and sounded the alarm.
The break-in happened despite a new £4,500,000 fence being put along the boundary of the parliamentary grounds months earlier.
A House of Lords spokesman later confirmed the beach, saying: ‘We can confirm a member of the public was arrested for trespassing on the Parliamentary Estate on Sunday 30 November.
‘This is being dealt with by the Metropolitan Police. Following the incident security arrangements were urgently reviewed and enhanced measures put in place.’
They said officials followed ‘normal practice’ and informed ‘the relevant domestic committees and office holders in the House’ about what happened.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed: ‘Police were called at 13:04hrs on Sunday, 30 November to the Palace of Westminster where they arrested an intruder.
‘He did not come into contact with any staff or members of the House.
‘Devon Dorrall, 23, of Tilehurst, was charged on Monday, 1 December with trespass on a protected site.
‘He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the following day where he was remanded in custody.’
The suspect is due to appear in court again for a plea hearing on December 30th.
The mishap comes after a string of security breaches uncovered in recent months.
Two men were arrested in November in connection with a mobile phone hidden in the House of Commons.
It is believed the device was intended to interrupt Prime Ministers Questions between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badnoch.
In March, a barefoot man climbed Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower and waved a Palestinian flag.
He was up there for more than 16 hours before being arrested.
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