Gun fired in Andrew's mansion

The duke was at his Berkshire home

A royal protection officer accidentally fired a shot inside the Duke of York's residence while he was in a room nearby, it has emerged.

The Metropolitan Police officer was unloading his gun when it went off.

Scotland Yard has taken the officer off firearms duty and is mounting an inquiry after the incident, which happened two weeks ago at Prince Andrew's Sunninghill Park mansion in Berkshire.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "We can confirm that on the 25th April a Metropolitan Police officer accidentally discharged a firearm while he was unloading it.

"There were no injuries. An internal inquiry has been launched as a matter of course.

"As is routine the officer concerned has been taken off routine firearms duty pending the outcome of the inquiry."

Train shots

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman would not comment on the incident, saying: "This is a police matter."

In June 2000, a royal bodyguard twice fired his gun accidentally as the Queen slept nearby on board the Royal Train in the Welsh countryside.

The veteran firearms officer with the elite Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Squad discharged a round from his 9mm Glock automatic pistol in the staff dining room of the train.

The second shot was accidentally fired moments later. There was minor damage.