Breaking news in the UK is that an investigation has been launched after a cop on duty guarding the home of William and Kate accidentally fired a gun, blowing a hole in the bottom of his squad car.

It's the latest humiliation in a series of embarrassing blunders by the royal protection squad, which has seen them pilloried for failing to protect Kate and Harry from being photographed naked.

Nobody was injured in the incident which happened in north Wales last week. Kate is believed to have been within earshot when the shot was fired, but William was on duty.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Shortly before 1pm on Wednesday October 24 an on-duty MPS police officer unintentionally discharged a firearm while in an unmarked police vehicle. The round damaged the floor of the vehicle. Another on-duty officer was in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Neither officer was injured. The officers were on duty in north Wales at the time."

Both the officers are attached to Specialist Operations, the Met said. The Royals are protected by a dedicated squad called Special Operations 19.

The spokesman said the officer concerned has been removed from firearms duty pending the outcome of inquiries.

Spokespeople for William and Kate declined to comment, saying it was a police matter.