Nick Griffin denied entry to Buckingham Palace garden party The Mall, London Middlesex England

But officials withdrew the invitation after warning his attendance could increase the security threat and cause discomfort for others attending.

A palace spokesman said: “Nick Griffin MEP will be denied entry to today's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace due to the fact he has overtly used his personal invitation for Party political purposes through the media

“This in turn has increased the security threat and the potential discomfort to the many other guests also attending.

“Mr Griffin's personal invitation was issued to him as an elected Member of the European Parliament. The decision to deny him entry is not intended to show any disrespect to the democratic process by which the invitation was issued.

“However, we would apply the same rules to anyone who tried to blatantly politicise their attendance in this way.”

Other members of the Royal Family who were due to attend the event included the Duke of York, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Mr Griffin had denied that his attendance at the garden party would cause embarrassment for the Queen.

Speaking to GMTV before attending the event he said: “The palace have made it very clear that they will not discriminate against any elected MEP and I think that is the proper thing to do, so there’s no embarrassment there at all.”

But London Mayor Boris Johnson had warned that Mr Griffin’s attendance would risk turning what should be a happy event for many people into a political stunt.

Mr Griffin had said he felt it was unlikely he would meet the Queen during the event and insisted he had no intention of trying to speak to her.

But he added: “If we happen to meet over the sandwiches, of course I will.”

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk