Buckingham Palace intruder 'wanted to see Queen'

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of an attempted burglary at Buckingham Palace (GETTY)

A man armed with a six-inch kitchen knife was rugby-tackled to the ground by police outside Buckingham Palace after jumping over a vehicle barrier in an attempt to see the Queen, a court has heard.

David Belmar admitted trespass and possession of a bladed article at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

The 44-year-old from Haringey, north London, was watched by a crowd of around 20 tourists as he tried to run through the palace's north centre gate just before 11.30am yesterday.

When police searched Belmar after bringing him to the ground, they found the kitchen knife wrapped in a plastic bag in his jacket pocket.

Edward Aydin, prosecuting, told the court: "In police custody, he said to police 'I wanted to see the Queen. I'm not happy about my benefits'."

He added that Belmar, who has mental health issues which he is taking medication for, has a fixation with the Queen and received a caution in 1989 for lighting fireworks and throwing them into the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

The Queen was not in the building at the time of yesterday's incident, Buckingham Palace said.

District Judge Quentin Purdy adjourned sentencing so that pre-sentence reports could be carried out.

He remanded Belmar in custody until he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a date yet to be set.

Belmar, who appeared in court wearing a black jumper with an Umbro logo and blue jeans, went to the front of Buckingham Palace at 11.29am, Mr Aydin said.

He told the court Mr Belmar, who is of a stocky build, was seen to suddenly break into a run.

"He then turned into the grounds of the palace and jumped over the vehicle barrier by putting his foot on that barrier," said Mr Aydin. "Two police officers, armed, one of them shouted: 'Stop!' - he continued to run.

"As you can see he's quite a large man. He was rugby tackled to the ground because he wouldn't stop. Police called out on two occasions."

He added that other officers rushed to help apprehend Belmar.

A number of children were at the gates of the palace watching while the incident was unfolding, the court heard.

"Armed guards had to stop him," said Mr Aydin. "He could have been fired upon. Other people could have been hurt. And there was a risk of some form of disorder there outside the palace."

Belmar was under the care of mental health services from 2002 to 2010 and lives with his father and brother, both of whom sat in the court's public gallery for today's hearing.

Mr Aydin said Belmar was a man with a long history of mental illness who is a danger to himself.

He added: "His behaviour that morning, yesterday, was unpredictable.

"He is a danger to the public, carrying a knife in central London, and he is a danger to the Queen."

PA