UK News 07-11-2003 Prince Denies Sex Rumour who: Prince Charles what: Issues denial as suppressed rumour of sexual indiscretion spreads via internet where: Clarence House, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "The Prince of Wales finally broke his silence to deny that he had been involved in a sexual incident involving a former royal servant," reports The Times today. "Clarence House issued the public statement only hours after an injunction banning newspapers from naming the former royal servant was lifted by the High Court." "The allegation was that the Prince of Wales was involved in the incident. This allegation is untrue," says the statement. "The incident which the former employee claims to have witnessed did not take place." The Mail On Sunday wanted to publish the story last weekend but Michael Fawcett, a former royal servant, won a libel injunction last Saturday to stop it. His name can only be revealed because yesterday The Guardian successfully overturned a legal injunction to protect him. And insiders at The Mail reckons they "Although the Clarence House statement did not name the servant who made the allegations to The Mail on Sunday, it relates to George Smith, who was close to the Princess of Wales," explains Robert Verkaik, legal affairs correspondent at The Independent. "He alleged last year that he had been raped by a member of the royal staff." "Will the MoS`s story ever make it into print?" ponders The Telegraph`s Tom Leonard. "Only a few years ago that would have been the crucial question for all concerned. Not any more. Details of the allegations were running yesterday on a well-known gossip website (unconnected with the MoS) and have also been published on a Swiss website (a fact that has been similarly well publicised)." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!