Hi °C | Lo °C PRINCE Charles did everything in his power to spare his son's blushes, attempting to block naked pictures of Prince Harry from appearing in the British press.
Although the photographs -- which show playful Harry (27) running around naked in his Las Vegas hotel suite with unidentified women -- were published by the Herald and circulated online, lawyers for Prince Charles went to the British Press Complaints Commission (PCC) to prevent British newspapers from printing them.
Newsrooms across the UK showed interest in revealing the pictures, which were first published by TMZ.com. However, after the palace made the intervention, the mood changed with many opting out.
This changed yet again late yesterday afternoon when the Herald became the first international title to publish the pictures.
Industry sources told the Herald that our publication of the images had prompted much "hand-wringing" in newsrooms in London.
Sources have also pointed out that the British media are nervously awaiting the report of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. Privacy laws that apply to British publications do not apply to publications outside of the UK.
Meanwhile, an embarrassed Prince Harry was back home in London this morning.
The Prince, who is third in line to the throne after his father and older brother Prince William, jetted back to Britain from Los Angeles.
Palace officials say that the he was always scheduled to return on this day and did not return earlier than planned. It is believed that he stayed away from fellow passengers on his flight, remaining in an upstairs cabin of the 747 aircraft which brought him home.
Before departing, Harry was pictured in the Venice area of LA, in California. He was seen chatting with a mystery blonde woman and refused to comment on his wild exploits when approached by a reporter.
He was then escorted by a six-man security team in a convoy of black Cadillac Escalades to LA's international airport.
Accused
The photos, which surfaced on TMZ, showed the Prince covering himself after losing a game of strip billiards at the five-star Wynn Hotel resort.
Facing a media storm, Harry has been accused of bringing the Royal family into global disrepute.
Former Royal protection officer, Ken Wharfe, has explained that the incident will be a setback for the Prince
"It really undermines the work that he has been doing in the last six months -- that's his charitable work and even his military career, which has taken off in a fantastic direction," Mr Wharfe said.
It is understood that the royal's staff spent the day locked in meetings about how best to handle the scandal.
Security for the queen's family costs almost €150m a year, former Metropolitan Police head of protection Dai Davies has explained.
Taxpayers are "paying huge amounts of money for this young man to be followed everywhere he goes by security," Davies said.
"But on the other hand, (royals) have to have a life," he added.
"Occasionally that balance slips. There's a responsibility on the person being secured as well as those trying to protect him."
lbutler@herald.ie
