The prime minister yesterday ordered a probe into security after a journalist managed to secure a job as a footman in Buckingham Palace.

The security breach overshadowed the first day of George W Bush's state visit to the UK.

The journalist said he could have poisoned the Queen or mounted a terrorist outrage "with absolute ease".

Blair ordered the Security Commission to investigate the blunder - with an interim report expected before Christmas.

In a Commons statement the home secretary appeared to lay the blame for the breach with those working in the Royal household.

He said all the security measures had been properly conducted, but described the employment checks carried out on staff as "insufficient".

Buckingham Palace has refused to rule out taking legal action against the Mirror journalist who masterminded the security sting.