Blackmail royal's identity kept secret

Buckingham Palace has obtained a court order banning the media from revealing the identity of the royal at the centre of an alleged sex and drugs blackmail plot despite fevered speculation.The Palace refused to comment on the issue other than to say it was a "matter for the police".It emerged over the weekend that the royal in question was forced to turn to Scotland Yard after two men threatened to go public with tapes they claimed indicated that the royal had engaged in a sex act with an aide.It is believed that a demand of £50,000 was made by the alleged blackmailers but a police sting ensured that the evidence was seized and the men arrested with no money exchanging hands.The claims first surfaced on Sunday when a newspaper said that the alleged blackmailers first contacted the royal's aides on August 2.One of the two men claimed to have video footage suggesting that a royal aide had in his possession an envelope containing cocaine supplied by the royal. Newspaper reports now claim the aide is seen snorting the drug.It was also alleged during the conversation that a video tape existed in which it is indicated that an aide had performed a sex act on the royal.The caller then left his mobile phone number and asked for the royal to phone them back, it has been reported.A senior legal adviser to the royal is believed to have agreed with them that he would meet with the blackmailers to view the tape before handing over the cash.In the meantime the Metropolitan Police had been asked to intervene.Posing as an aide, an undercover detective contacted the blackmailers and arranged a rendezvous at the London Hilton in Park Lane on September 11.The meeting was filmed secretly by officers in an adjacent room.Parts of the blackmail video were shown before detectives stepped in, seized the tape and arrested the two men.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | October 29, 2007

Tags:. .london. .left. .court. .seen. .secretly