Queen Elizabeth's son Prince Andrew says he is “grateful” for an apology from the police on Sunday after armed officers stopped him in the gardens of Buckingham Palace demanding to know his identity.

The Sunday Express newspaper claims pointed their guns at Prince Andrew and ordered him to “put your hands up and get on the ground” after mistaking him for an intruder in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

Cops deny reports that officers drew their firearms.

“The man was satisfactorily identified.  No weapons were drawn and no force was used,” a Metro Police statement read, not naming Prince Andrew.

But a royal insider told the paper, “The fact that this guy was able to wander off unchallenged and not be spotted by anyone is bad enough.  But then to mistake the Duke for another intruder is almost incomprehensible.

“There is a high turnover of the police on duty at the Palace, but you’d think anyone would know what Prince Andrew looks like.”

Security at the palace has been stepped up after two men were arrested on palace grounds in separate incidents, each suspected of attempted burglary.