Royal aide denies rape allegation

An unnamed close aide to the Prince of Wales strongly denied accusations last night that he had twice raped another royal employee, whom he accused of being an "unreliable alcoholic".

The latest development in the fall-out from the collapse of the Paul Burrell case came after the alleged victim waived his legal right to anonymity to make a series of claims in a Sunday newspaper.

George Smith, 42, who left royal service with a £38,000 pay off, admits a history of depression and alcohol problems. The Falklands War veteran said he was raped twice, in 1989 and 1995, and confirms he gave an account to Diana, Princess of Wales, which she taped.

The allegations were investigated by St James's Palace, which took no action, and by Scotland Yard last year as part of the Burrell inquiry. The Crown Prosecution Service ruled out charges.

A statement from the aide's solicitors said the newspaper account had a number of discrepancies with what was in Mr Smith's police statement.

The Smith claims came in a raft of further speculation about Mr Burrell's private life.