Britain: Prince Charles has ruled out making a special television appearance to deny a growing tide of media rumour that he was once involved in a sexual incident with one of his servants.
Speculation about an address had grown as some newspapers in Scotland and Ireland published details of the rumour over the weekend, bringing to Britain's doorstep an allegation which has already been aired in continental newspapers.
So far, English newspapers have obeyed a legal injunction not to reveal the rumour.
The prince, who returned from a two-week overseas trip on Sunday, is spending two days at Highgrove, his country estate, conferring with his partner, Ms Camilla Parker-Bowles, his son, Prince William, and advisers about how to counter the allegation.
Yesterday, his office said he was not planning either to take legal action or to go on television to add to a stern rebuttal of the rumour issued in his absence last week.
A spokeswoman said the prince was due to make first public engagement tomorrow since his return from Oman, at a Remembrance service.
The latest scandal to rock the House of Windsor began 10 days ago when Prince Charles's former personal aide Michael Fawcett was granted a legal injunction preventing the Mail on Sunday newspaper publishing the charges by former palace servant Mr George Smith.
The News of the World asked on its banner headline on Sunday "IS CHARLES BISEXUAL?" - a question it answered several paragraphs later in small type: "emphatically NOT". - (Reuters)