Princes' Phones 'Tapped', Says Met Chief

Mobile phones belonging to Princes William and Harry were tapped by the News of the World, according to a senior Metropolitan police officer.

Chief Superintendent Philip Williams told a Commons media committee there was proof the young royals were targeted by reporters working for the Sunday tabloid.

In 2007 the News of the World's royal correspondent Clive Goodman was sent to prison for four months after plotting to hack into the phones of royal aides.

Mr Williams said he believes William and Harry were also potential victims.

The paper said it knew of "no evidence" to support the officer's claims, and that police had never raised suspicions previously.

No such allegations were made during the original investigation, the News of the World said.

Appearing before MPs, Mr Williams conceded officers had "never been able to prove" reporters had tapped the princes' phone.

But said he had solid reasons to suspect the young royals' voicemails were intercepted.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates also faced questions from the committee, centring on why the Met had decided not to reopen its investigation into alleged phone tapping by the paper.

The story came to light following a Guardian report claiming hundreds, if not thousands, of public individuals had allegedly been monitored by the News of the World.

According to Mr Yates the police were aware of some alleged instances, but viewed the Guardian piece in July as "three old stories conflated into one," containing no new evidence.

Tory communication director Andy Coulson was editor of the News of the World when the alleged phone tapping took place.

Conservative leader David Cameron stood by Mr Coulson throughout the furore.

(PR/BMcC)