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CNN Sunday Morning

Prince Harry Reported to Have Used Marijuana Last Year

Aired January 13, 2002 - 10:08   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: In Britain, Prince Charles could be crowned Father of the Year, as many applaud how he handled a problem with his youngest son. It seems last year Prince Harry was drinking and tried marijuana.

ITV's Adrian Britain (ph) tells us what came next.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADRIAN BRITAIN, ITV REPORTER (voice-over): Prince Harry was not among members of the Royal Family attending a service at (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He's thought to be at Highgrove, where he is said to have experimented with cannabis last summer.

Papers all carry headlines about his drug taking and underage drinking sessions. The paper which broke the story says the young prince smoked the drug on several occasions at private parties with friends. Prince Charles was so concerned at how often his son was using cannabis that he arranged for him to visit a drugs rehabilitation center for the day.

CLIVE GOODMAN, NEWS OF THE WORLD: He's clearly got some problems. He has had to come to terms with the loss of his mother. He had to come to terms with his brother going off to university. He's got issues to address and unfortunately he chose to do it in a very poor way; and his father's put him back on the path.

BRITAIN: At the Featherstone Lodge Rehabilitation Center in south London, Harry met drug addicts and listened to their stories of how their lives could be ruined after progressing from cannabis to heroin and cocaine. It was shock therapy.

BILL PUDDICOMBE, PHOENIX HOUSE: I think the message that he would have heard from people was about how addiction can creep up on you and about how you think you can control the drugs that you're using, and then suddenly discover that they're controlling you.

BRITAIN: As well as taking cannabis, Prince Harry is reported to have been barred from a pub near Highgrove after a late-night drinking session. The drugs were taken with friends on the Royal Estate when his father was away on business. Prince Charles, however, is said to have reacted calmly when he confronted his son, but decided swift action was needed. (on camera): In a statement, St. James' Palace acknowledges this is a serious matter, but that it was resolved in the family and is now closed. But in response to reports that Prince Harry had been involved in regular underage drinking sessions, a palace spokesman conceded there had been what he called a situation, which was now in the past.

Adrian Britain, ITV News, at St. James' Palace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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