Man posing as a priest let into Victoria Barracks just metres away from Windsor Castle

The Queen has been caught up in a major security breach near Windsor Castle which has sparked an urgent investigation.

An urgent investigation is underway after a man posing as a priest entered the barracks of soldiers protecting the Queen just metres away from Windsor Castle and spent the night there.

The man convinced soldiers at the gate of the Victoria Barracks that he was a priest and a friend of the padre to the Coldstream Guards at the base, according to The Sun.

At no point did the impostor show any ID or credentials, the news outlet reports, yet he spent the night eating and drinking with senior officers and told stories of serving in Iraq.

The man was given a bed for the night and the alarm was finally raised in the morning after breakfast.

Queen Elizabeth II during a military ceremony in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images

The man was taken away by police.

“We received a report of an intruder at Victoria Barracks in Sheet Street, Windsor, at 9.20am on Wednesday.

“Officers attended and removed the intruder from the barracks. No further action was required,” a Thames Valley Police spokesman told The Sun.

The Ministry of Defence is investigating.

“The Army takes this breach of security extremely seriously and it will be thoroughly investigated as a matter of priority.

“This incident is now part of an ongoing investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” an army spokesperson told the publication.

The Queen returned from her Easter celebrations at Sandringham hours after the man was removed.

For more see The Sun.

Originally published as Man posing as a priest let into Victoria Barracks just metres away from Windsor Castle