Charles says let it drop
By PAUL THOMPSON
Royal Correspondent
PRINCE Charles has ruled out suing the ex-valet who sparked the crisis engulfing the Royal Family, it emerged yesterday.
The Prince fears former mental patient George Smith could be driven over the edge by legal action.
Friends are concerned Smith might “do a Dr Kelly”, a reference to the MoD scientist who committed suicide over allegations arising out of the war on Iraq.
Despite Charles’ fury at the ex-servant — who claims he witnessed a “compromising” incident involving the Prince — he does not want the matter taken further.
The Prince has also decided against a TV interview to put his side of the story and will “tough out” the controversy instead.
Charles, 54, and eldest son Prince William, 21, held crisis talks at their country home Highgrove yesterday to plan their approach.
The Prince’s long-term partner Camilla Parker Bowles was also at the meeting, which was called after Charles flew back to Britain from his overseas tour to India and Oman on Sunday night.
A senior aide said Charles was fearful for the fragile mental state of Falklands veteran Smith, 43, who has battled drink problems and spent time in a mental unit.
One friend said: “The Prince knows this man has suffered. Any legal action could cause him more harm and the last thing the Prince wants is for Smith to do a Dr Kelly on him.”
Scientist Dr David Kelly killed himself after he was named as the person responsible for leaking information to the press about the Government’s case for war.
Charles paid for Smith to be treated at the famed Priory Clinic and gave him a £38,000 payoff when he left the Royal Household.
Charles kept in contact with William as the scandal unfolded while he was abroad last week.
The storm broke after ex-flunkey Michael Fawcett, 40, was revealed as the person who sought an injunction to gag Smith.
It has been claimed Smith saw the alleged incident as he brought Charles breakfast to his bedroom.
William, who is spending this week at Highgrove as a break from St Andrews University, sat in on phone conferences Charles had with advisers in London.
Brother Harry, 19, in Australia on a gap year, has also been kept informed of developments.
Charles’ Private Secretary Sir Michael Peat last week dismissed Smith’s allegations as “ludicrous” and “risible” lies.
A senior source said: “The Prince has made it clear the allegations are not true. That, he feels, is an end to the matter.”
Despite the upbeat official stance Camilla was driven away from yesterday’s Highgrove conference looking pale and drawn.
She sat in the passenger seat of a black estate car holding her cherished Jack Russell terrier Freddy tight in her lap.
One onlooker said: “She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.”
A Scottish paper became the latest media outlet to print the allegation, which has been publicised abroad and on the internet but cannot be repeated in England.
The row took a new twist when former senior Palace aide Mark Bolland revealed he had been quizzed about Charles’s sexuality.
Bolland, now a tabloid columnist, claimed Sir Michael Peat asked him a year ago: “Do you think Charles is bisexual?”
Mr Bolland, 37, said the Prince was not gay or bisexual — but Charles was left furious by what he saw as a betrayal of confidence.
Another ex-valet yesterday insisted Smith’s claims could not be true because of strict job divisions in the Royal Household.
Simon Solari, who worked closely with both Charles and Princess Diana, said: “The incident could not have happened. It would not have been in George’s remit to attend the Prince or serve tea in his bedroom.”
From The Sun.
