CNN.com - Harry 'facedfake bomb threat'

LONDON, England -- Britain's defense secretary has launched a security review of the military academy where Prince Harry is training after a newspaper said its reporter entered the grounds carrying a fake bomb.

The Sun tabloid said Thursday that Britain's third in line to the throne was at Sandhurst while its reporter spent eight hours wandering the grounds and corridors.

UK Defence Secretary John Reid said: "I have demanded an immediate investigation into this serious security breach. I have instructed Sandhurst to change their procedures to prevent a recurrence."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that The Sun's report was accurate, The Associated Press reported.

The newspaper said its reporter, who it did not name, posed as a "warfare student" and wandered into accommodation blocks where cadets sleep.

On its front page it printed a picture, taken from video footage, of Harry with fellow cadets. However, royal officials said they did not believe the person in the video was the prince.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House, the official residence of Harry's father, heir to the throne Prince Charles, told the Press Association: "Having reviewed the footage and spoken to those who were with Harry we are of the opinion that it is not him in the footage."

The reporter sent an e-mail to the academy's chief librarian giving a vague outline of his research into 20th century warfare, the newspaper said.

He reportedly received a reply confirming an appointment, and days later received an invitation from Sandhurst in the post.

The newspaper said the reporter was then waved through security and strolled into the library before wandering off.

He later went back to his car where he constructed a fake bomb with wires, plasticine, a battery and clock, The Sun said.

After seven hours at the base, he was finally challenged but simply asked for directions to a shop and was sent on his way.

Harry is third in line to the British throne, after his father Prince Charles and older brother William.

A policeman challenged him soon afterwards but was satisfied with the reporter's explanation and allowed him to stay on the base, it was reported.

Harry is an officer cadet at Sandhurst and has only just had his first weekend off from the tough military academy in Surrey, west of London.

He has completed the commissioning course's grueling initial five weeks of training -- a "rite of passage" to transform him from a civilian into a soldier.

The incident is the latest in a string of breaches that have focused attention on the royal family's security in the past couple for years.

In September, a protester disguised as Batman climbed onto a ledge on the front of Buckingham Palace and remained there for several hours.

A comedian dressed as Osama bin Laden gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle in 2003.

Later that year a reporter from the Daily Mirror got a job as a servant at Buckingham Palace and took pictures of the royals' living quarters.