UK News 05-12-2002 Palace vs Police who: Prince of Wales`s private secretary Sir Michael Peat what: Hints that police were to blame for collapse of butlers` theft trials where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "The Royal Family launched a fierce counter attack yesterday against police claims that Buckingham Palace scuppered the butler theft trials," reports The Sun. "In an amazing on-the-record briefing to newsmen, Prince Charles`s private secretary Sir Michael Peat said: We must defend ourselves." Following "the chaotic collapse of the trial of Harold Brown, the second butler to be charged with the theft of items belonging to the royal family", Sir Michael all but suggested the police had wasted £2million and two years, says The Guardian. His sentiment was echoed by the prime minister who told the Commons yesterday that "the crown prosecution service are learning the lessons of both cases and I hope they will learn them quickly." Sir Michael, described by The Guardian as "Prince Charles`s most senior courtier and closest adviser", also said the royals were never consulted about the nature of the prosecution case against Paul Burrell, the other royal butler whose Old Bailey theft trial recently collapsed. "And he insisted the police were made fully aware that Princess Diana`s former butler was given valuable gifts by her and Charles," reports The Mirror. "What actually happened was they (the police) knew he had been given vast treasures. They had a list of valuable items which they accepted had been given to Mr Burrell," said Sir Michael. "It was entirely obvious the police knew all about it." [... more]

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