LONDON: An undercover reporter of the News of the World, a leading London tabloid, has been arrested at the Buckingham Palace after trying to get a job as a housekeeping assistant at the Queen's royal residence.
The tabloid confirmed that Bethany Usher, one of its staff, was detained by police as she tried to carry out a "legitimate journalistic exercise investigating security" at the monarch's London home.
It is alleged that Usher used false details on her job application.
The 25-year-old was detained by the royalty protection squad SO14 on Friday and questioned at Belgravia police station before being bailed to return on February 9.
She was held on suspicion of "attempting to obtain pecuniary advantage by deception." It is understood she had not started work at the Palace, but was there for an interview.
Usher, a former Sunderland Echo reporter, is said to have joined the News of the World at the beginning of this month.
News of the World sources alleged that staff from Usher's former employers, the People, tipped off the Clarence House head of press, Paddy Harveson, about Usher's plan after she moved to the rival tabloid.
Harveson refused to be drawn on the claims insisting that he "would never comment on security matters anyway." He said "this is a matter for the Metropolitan Police. We are aware of an arrest."
A spokesman of the tabloid said "Bethany Usher was engaged in a legitimate journalistic exercise investigating security at Buckingham Police.
"Following questioning she was released, having been bailed to return in February."
The incident follows the high-profile case of Daily Mirror reporter Ryan Parry, who sparked a major security alert when he managed to get a job as a footman at the Palace in the run-up to President George W Bush's state visit in 2003.
