Comedy Terrorist boasts of Royal stunt

Comedy Terrorist Aaron Barschak says he was amazed how easy it was to gatecrash Prince William's 21st birthday party.

The 36-year-old comic, who prompted two high-level security reviews after evading police at Windsor Castle, said last night: "It was unbelievably simple.

"He. I'm amazed I got in. Royal security is not at all what I expected. But Prince William is a lovely boy."

Speaking to The Sun, he added: "I would rather security gets a big kick up the arse as a result of my actions than the whole thing just goes up in smoke."

Barschak yesterday led police around the castle to show them the route he took to get into the party, despite wearing an Osama Bin Laden beard and a pink ballgown. He scaled an embankment, climbed a tree and jumped onto a wall before reaching a terrace.

A statement from Metropolitan Police assistant commisioner David Veness said: "He was challenged by a contractor and escorted to a police point. He gave what appeared to be a credible story and was allowed into the area of the castle where the party was taking place. This seems to have been an operational failure, which should not have happened.''

Barschak reportedly stumbled onto the stage as Prince William was making a speech thanking Prince Charles and the Queen for organising the party, seizing the microphone

After hewas taken away, William was said to have attempted to lighten the mood by joking: "I didn't know my brother could do an accent like that."

As he was driven away from the castle in handcuffs, Barschak, from Dulwich, South London, was seen clutching a book about Bin Laden.He has been bailed to return to a London police station next month.

Barschak today joked: "I am a security consultant now. I'm with the police. I have to show them how I got in."

The Metropolitan police say a "thorough review of the circumstances" is now under way, and Home Secretary David Blunkett has also demanded to know how Barschak got into the castle so easily.

Barschak has a history of invading high-profile events, but this is his most audacious stunt yet.

He has previously interrupted Eddie Izzard and Terry Jones during a televised tribute concert to Spike Milligan, harangued Ken Livingstone at an anti-war demonstration and is awaiting trail after being charged with throwing paint at an exhibition by Turner Prize-nominated artists Jake and Dinos Chapman.

Four hours before invading the stage of the party, which had an Out of Africa theme and a guest list that boasted 30 senior royals as well as such celebrities as Rowan Atkinson and Tara Palmer Tomkinson, Barschak was filmed teasing crowds outside the castle gates.

He shouted out "Happy Birthday. Out of Africa? I am out of this world." Then he raised his dress to reveal a black wig said: "I present the real heir to the throne."

His 72-year-old dad Fred, a property developer fom North London, said: "He is a zany character with a zany sense of humour. But he is not a nutter. He probably went too far. But he did not assault anyone. He would never harm someone in a million years."

The incident will no doubt provide material for Barschak's hour-long show, Osama Like It Hot, which he is premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

He created the Comedy Terrorist character to storm public events after working as a successful Ali G lookalike.

He was trained at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York, whose alumni include Gregory Peck and Diane Keaton and has previously worked importing pop records to Bolivia.

Published: 23 Jun 2003