Prince Charles dismisses 'entirely untrue' allegations

Prince Charles has issued a statement describing as "entirely untrue" allegations from a former royal aide that had been due to appear in last week's Mail on Sunday.

Last night's statement from Clarence House issued on behalf of the Prince by his private secretary Sir Michael Peat follows on from a High Court injunction taken by former royal aide Michael Fawcett against the Mail on Sunday last Saturday. The nature of those allegations cannot be published for legal reasons.

Prince Charles's statement referred to media reports concerning an allegation that a former Royal Household employee "witnessed an incident some years ago" involving a senior member of the royal family. Those allegations have since been disseminated widely on the internet.

Today, the Prince's statement said that the allegation was "entirely untrue" and the incident the former employee claims to have witnessed "did not take place".

The statement added: "There is a particular sadness about this allegation because it was made by a former Royal Household employee who, unfortunately, has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and has previously suffered from alcoholism following active service in the Falklands.

"He has, in the past, made other unrelated allegations, which the police have fully investigated, and found to be unsubstantiated.

"The newspaper group that sought to publish this allegation knew this and has described the former employee as 'hardly a reliable witness'.

"This was why the newspaper concerned agreed to the injunction on Saturday afternoon."

The Guardian newspaper won its legal challenge yesterday forbidding the identification of the person who sought the Mail on Sunday injunction. The court ruled that the newspaper make the identification on the basis that it did not reveal details of the allegation.

Lawyers for the Mail on Sunday are expected to return to court today in an attempt to overturn last week's injunction.

The Prince is currently on an official visit in Oman.

(gmcg)