quote:
PAPERS REVEAL HARRY 'HONEY TRAP' PLOT
St James's Palace has refused to comment on newspaper reports of a "bizarre plot" to obtain a sample of Prince Harry's DNA.
A girl was going to be used to set a "honey trap" and pluck a strand of hair from his head, according to the Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times.
The newspapers report that Prince Charles's private secretary Sir Michael Peat was tipped off about the elaborate sting and contacted police.
Scotland Yard refused to comment but police sources say they have received no complaint and no investigation is under way.
Both newspapers say Sir Michael may have believed that the News of the World was involved in the plot but the newspaper issued a denial.
Stuart Kuttner, managing editor, said: "The allegation that we would attempt to obtain a sample of Prince Harry's hair is utterly preposterous.
"We did not do this, never attempted to do this and it has never crossed our minds to do so."
He went on: "If this is the approach Sir Michael Peat is adopting in his investigation into sleaze at the Palace, we can only assume he'll find everyone guilty - regardless of any evidence.
"The whole notion is bonkers. Tom Crone, the legal manager of News International, publishers of the News of the World, formally told him so in the plainest of terms today.
"It's a pity Sir Michael chooses to think otherwise."
Story filed: 00:01 Sunday 15th December 2002
I'd give Harry a 'honey trap' he'd never forget ...