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CNN Sunday Morning

Britain Royals Admit Prince Harry Smoked Marijuana

Aired January 13, 2002 - 08:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Who says American parents don't deal with some of the same problems as Britain's royal family? Well, it seems Prince Harry, Diana and Charles' youngest, admits that he's been smoking marijuana.

CNN's Hala Gorani tells us about the young prince's visit to a London rehab center.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Royal officials were forced to admit Saturday that Prince Charles' youngest son experimented with drugs. Tabloid newspapers revealed that 17-year-old Prince Harry confessed to his father last summer that he had smoked marijuana and gotten drunk.

CLIVE GOODMAN, NEWS OF THE WORLD: These were not the usual teenage high spirits, these were a young lad drinking under age, taking pot, which is illegal.

GORANI: But a Buckingham Palace spokesman denied the problem had been long-term or particularly grave, and told CNN that Prince Harry has not taken drugs since. He added, quote, "This is a serious matter which was dealt with within the family."

Charles reported reacted straight away when he learned his son had tried pot, sending him to visit a rehab clinic in London to show him the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. The head of the clinic says Prince Harry's visit seems positive.

BILL PUDDICOMBE, CEO, PHOENIX HOUSE: He came and visited for a couple of hours. He spoke to the people who are there who are recovering from addiction from cocaine, heroin and other elicit drugs, as well as alcohol. He learned a bit about the consequences of drug use.

GORANI (on camera): A royal spokesman told CNN Harry had never used a more serious drug and that he didn't know why the prince's brush with marijuana was being reported now. It certainly isn't unusual for teenagers to experiment with alcohol or cannabis, but only a handful have to deal with the attention of the world's media when it's revealed that they have.

Hala Gorani, CNN, London. (END VIDEOTAPE)

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