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CNN Sunday Morning

Princes Charles Accused of Royal Cover-Up

Aired November 10, 2002 - 11:35   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Britain, it is Remembrance Day. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles honored British war dead from the first and second world wars. They laid wreaths at a memorial and the nation observed two minutes of silence.
Today's ceremony comes after several difficult days for the royal family. The queen was swept up in a trial of one of Princess Diana's former servants and now, Prince Charles is accused of a royal cover- up. CNN's Robyn Curnow has the latest on that live from London -- Robin.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the tabloids' frenzy that has followed Paul Burrell's, Princess Diana's former butler, has now shifted to a wider story. Reports today not just about what the butler said he saw, but more about the reports on the reputation of the royal family. That is now what is at stake, according to many newspapers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW (voice-over): Day four of the butler's story. Details of the marriage breakup of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. The British public still lapping up the details.

PIERS MORGAN, EDITOR, "DAILY MIRROR": It's been utterly astonishing. We have sold an extra one and a half million newspapers in four days. It breaks all records. It shows that there is an insatiable lust for the truth about this whole House of Windsor, House of Spencer, the Wales.

CURNOW: But the fallout from Paul Burrell's trial having implications beyond the sensational headlines. It was because of the trial the public learned about a tape, which according to "The Guardian" newspaper was heard by Mr. Burrell and Princess Diana's sister, Lady McCorquodale. He told detectives that it contained allegations of a rape by one male royal employee against another and that it was secretly made by the princess when she visited the alleged victim in hospital after the incident years ago.

The recording is now missing. Burrell says he doesn't know where it is. But more damaging, the suggestion in the press of a palace cover-up. Sir James' palace, Prince Charles' household now admits they carried out an internal investigation. And officials confirm that the complainant was paid what was thought to be at least $45,000 when he left royal service, a common practice, the royals say. The palace was quoted by "The Times" of London saying that "after a police review, the investigation was confirmed and completed and no proceedings were brought." And "The Guardian" says, "Members of parliament are now calling for Prince Charles to make a public statement, to clear up the allegations against his staff."

INGRID SEWARD, "MAJESTY" MAGAZINE: The rape allegations are a very difficult situation for Charles because it's a member of his staff. And, if there was indeed a cover-up, that puts him in a very awkward position.

CURNOW: Now, questions over what police will do next and, what Paul Burrell will reveal in the first television interview, which airs Sunday night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: Well, it hasn't made very pleasant Sunday morning reading here in Britain, either. More has come out; in particular, the man who accused Prince Charles' senior servant of raping him has come forward. He has given the name. His picture is on the front page of "The Mail" on Sunday. But besides these allegations of his particular rape, this man also says that he witnessed an incident between a senior member of the royal family and a palace servant. The newspaper doesn't go into details, but they do say that it was a shocking act.

LIN: Good Lord, Robyn. Well, the things that are coming out of the palace these days. Has the palace responded yet today?

CURNOW: Absolutely. They have said to us -- they told CNN that no comment to these new allegations between a member of the royal family and a servant that have come out in today's papers. They say no comment to that. The police say that there's been absolutely no evidence against any member of the royal family so far, and therefore, they're not going to bring an investigation. But obviously -- and to the obvious -- and to the other allegations of rape, police say that they have investigated.

LIN: All right, but allegations, but no criminal charges in this case?

CURNOW: Absolutely not.

LIN: OK.

CURNOW: But newspapers promising over the week that we're going to hear a lot more coming out.

LIN: OK, no criminal charges but lots and lots of print there for the British public to read. Thank you very much. Robyn Curnow reporting live from London.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 10, 2002 - 11:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Britain, it is Remembrance Day. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles honored British war dead from the first and second world wars. They laid wreaths at a memorial and the nation observed two minutes of silence.
Today's ceremony comes after several difficult days for the royal family. The queen was swept up in a trial of one of Princess Diana's former servants and now, Prince Charles is accused of a royal cover- up. CNN's Robyn Curnow has the latest on that live from London -- Robin.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the tabloids' frenzy that has followed Paul Burrell's, Princess Diana's former butler, has now shifted to a wider story. Reports today not just about what the butler said he saw, but more about the reports on the reputation of the royal family. That is now what is at stake, according to many newspapers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW (voice-over): Day four of the butler's story. Details of the marriage breakup of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. The British public still lapping up the details.

PIERS MORGAN, EDITOR, "DAILY MIRROR": It's been utterly astonishing. We have sold an extra one and a half million newspapers in four days. It breaks all records. It shows that there is an insatiable lust for the truth about this whole House of Windsor, House of Spencer, the Wales.

CURNOW: But the fallout from Paul Burrell's trial having implications beyond the sensational headlines. It was because of the trial the public learned about a tape, which according to "The Guardian" newspaper was heard by Mr. Burrell and Princess Diana's sister, Lady McCorquodale. He told detectives that it contained allegations of a rape by one male royal employee against another and that it was secretly made by the princess when she visited the alleged victim in hospital after the incident years ago.

The recording is now missing. Burrell says he doesn't know where it is. But more damaging, the suggestion in the press of a palace cover-up. Sir James' palace, Prince Charles' household now admits they carried out an internal investigation. And officials confirm that the complainant was paid what was thought to be at least $45,000 when he left royal service, a common practice, the royals say. The palace was quoted by "The Times" of London saying that "after a police review, the investigation was confirmed and completed and no proceedings were brought." And "The Guardian" says, "Members of parliament are now calling for Prince Charles to make a public statement, to clear up the allegations against his staff."

INGRID SEWARD, "MAJESTY" MAGAZINE: The rape allegations are a very difficult situation for Charles because it's a member of his staff. And, if there was indeed a cover-up, that puts him in a very awkward position.

CURNOW: Now, questions over what police will do next and, what Paul Burrell will reveal in the first television interview, which airs Sunday night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: Well, it hasn't made very pleasant Sunday morning reading here in Britain, either. More has come out; in particular, the man who accused Prince Charles' senior servant of raping him has come forward. He has given the name. His picture is on the front page of "The Mail" on Sunday. But besides these allegations of his particular rape, this man also says that he witnessed an incident between a senior member of the royal family and a palace servant. The newspaper doesn't go into details, but they do say that it was a shocking act.

LIN: Good Lord, Robyn. Well, the things that are coming out of the palace these days. Has the palace responded yet today?

CURNOW: Absolutely. They have said to us -- they told CNN that no comment to these new allegations between a member of the royal family and a servant that have come out in today's papers. They say no comment to that. The police say that there's been absolutely no evidence against any member of the royal family so far, and therefore, they're not going to bring an investigation. But obviously -- and to the obvious -- and to the other allegations of rape, police say that they have investigated.

LIN: All right, but allegations, but no criminal charges in this case?

CURNOW: Absolutely not.

LIN: OK.

CURNOW: But newspapers promising over the week that we're going to hear a lot more coming out.

LIN: OK, no criminal charges but lots and lots of print there for the British public to read. Thank you very much. Robyn Curnow reporting live from London.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com