Killer Wandered Palace Grounds While Queen Was In

It’s not only the Secret Service that deals with embarrassing gaffes involving fence jumpers. A convicted killer jumped the wall around Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, triggering an alarm, but was able to wander the grounds for 10 minutes before he was arrested, unarmed, reports the BBC. Prosecutors say Denis Hennessy repeatedly asked if the Queen was home (more specifically, "Is Ma'am in?")—and she was, along with Prince Philip and Prince Andrew.

The 41-year-old told police he had "walked through the gardens admiring the view," reports the AP. Hennessy—convicted of fatally beating a homeless man in 1992—pleaded guilty to trespassing and criminal damage and was sentenced to four months in jail on Friday. He had apparently consumed "four or five cans of cider" before tackling the fence; his lawyer said he had no "malicious intent." (More Buckingham Palace stories.)