This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7065942.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Royal 'targeted by blackmailers' | Royal 'targeted by blackmailers' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Buckingham Palace has refused to discuss a report that a member of the Royal Family has been the subject of a blackmail attempt. | Buckingham Palace has refused to discuss a report that a member of the Royal Family has been the subject of a blackmail attempt. |
| According to the Sunday Times, the case involves allegations of drugs and sex. | According to the Sunday Times, the case involves allegations of drugs and sex. |
| A Palace spokesperson would only say it was a police matter and Scotland Yard was investigating. | A Palace spokesperson would only say it was a police matter and Scotland Yard was investigating. |
| Police said two men, aged 30 and 40, appeared before City of Westminster magistrates on 13 September accused of blackmail and were remanded in custody. | Police said two men, aged 30 and 40, appeared before City of Westminster magistrates on 13 September accused of blackmail and were remanded in custody. |
| They will next appear at the Old Bailey in December. | They will next appear at the Old Bailey in December. |
| It's taken six weeks for it to come to light, so how serious is the allegation? Dickie ArbiterFormer Palace spokesman | It's taken six weeks for it to come to light, so how serious is the allegation? Dickie ArbiterFormer Palace spokesman |
| The Sunday Times says two men contacted a member of the royal staff and demanded £50,000, threatening to go public with a video recording involving sex and drugs if their demand was not met. | The Sunday Times says two men contacted a member of the royal staff and demanded £50,000, threatening to go public with a video recording involving sex and drugs if their demand was not met. |
| The paper claims the footage was linked to a member of the Royal Family and also involved one of their aides. | The paper claims the footage was linked to a member of the Royal Family and also involved one of their aides. |
| The two men were later arrested after police were contacted in September of this year, the paper said. | |
| A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the magistrates hearing had been held "in camera", or in private, and that reporting restrictions had been imposed to prevent the victim or witnesses from being identified. | A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the magistrates hearing had been held "in camera", or in private, and that reporting restrictions had been imposed to prevent the victim or witnesses from being identified. |
| 'Vast family' | 'Vast family' |
| Former Palace spokesman Dickie Arbiter said royal officials would have carried out their own inquiry into the validity of the Sunday Times story, but that it was unlikely that the name of the royal would be revealed. | Former Palace spokesman Dickie Arbiter said royal officials would have carried out their own inquiry into the validity of the Sunday Times story, but that it was unlikely that the name of the royal would be revealed. |
| "It's a vast family, there are nearly 40 members. Is it somewhere near the top? Is it in the middle, or is it down at the bottom? So they would have to determine that. | "It's a vast family, there are nearly 40 members. Is it somewhere near the top? Is it in the middle, or is it down at the bottom? So they would have to determine that. |
| "We don't know, we won't know, until the case comes to trial at the Old Bailey in December, and we might not even know then, which member of the Royal Family [it is]." | "We don't know, we won't know, until the case comes to trial at the Old Bailey in December, and we might not even know then, which member of the Royal Family [it is]." |
| Mr Arbiter added that he was surprised by how long it had taken for the story to break. | Mr Arbiter added that he was surprised by how long it had taken for the story to break. |
| "It's taken six weeks for it to come to light, so how serious is the allegation? | "It's taken six weeks for it to come to light, so how serious is the allegation? |
| "It's interesting too, that it's come out in the Sunday Times and not one of the usual tabloid scoops. | "It's interesting too, that it's come out in the Sunday Times and not one of the usual tabloid scoops. |
| "So it's going to take the due process of the law to determine was this true or was this just another fake sting?" | "So it's going to take the due process of the law to determine was this true or was this just another fake sting?" |