Senior members of the Britain's royal household have met as allegations that a homosexual rape took place at Buckingham Place took a new twist today.
The alleged attacker has been named in an Italian newspaper and across the world on the Internet.
Although he has not been named by British newspapers, the aide to the Prince of Wales accused of raping another servant was identified to readers of Rome-based La Repubblicaand anyone viewing its website.
The aide has strongly denied the accusations anonymously, in a statement through his solicitors following claims made by the alleged victim, ex-valet Mr George Smith.
Calls are growing for an independent inquiry into the way the Palace handled the rape allegation, which was initially dealt with as an internal inquiry rather than being reported to the police.
Labour MPs have called for a senior retired judge or former civil servant to be appointed to lead an investigation. It follows an opinion poll showing that two-thirds of the public believe the Queen and Prince of Wales intervened in the trial to prevent embarrassing revelations emerging in the witness box.
Mr Smith claimed disclosure of the incident would damage the monarchy irreparably and was the "real reason" for the Queen's intervention which brought an end to Mr Burrell's trial. Mr Smith's claims - tape recorded by Diana, Princess of Wales - may have been aired publicly in court.
The royal aide at the centre of the rape broke his silence at the weekend. He issued a rebuttal of the allegations through his solicitors, Kingsley Napley, labelling Mr Smith as unreliable adn taht his story differed "substantially and significantly" from what he told police last year.
Last year police investigated the alleged incident but Scotland Yard said the alleged victim chose not to pursue the claim and it was subsequently dropped.
Mr Smith, who was married at the time, claimed that in 1996 he told Diana about the alleged rape and that she recorded his accusation on tape. The Mail on Sundayreported that Diana deposited the cassettes, one labelled "The Confessions of George Smith", in a locked mahogany box - the one police were searching for when they raided Mr Burrell's house during their theft inquiry in January 2001.
PA
