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Prince Harry naked photos prompted palace call to PCC Prince Harry naked photos prompted palace call to PCC
(about 1 hour later)
  
St James's Palace has confirmed it contacted the Press Complaints Commission over the possible use of naked photos of Prince Harry. St James's Palace has confirmed it contacted the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) over the possible use of naked photos of Prince Harry.
The palace had heard a number of UK newspapers were considering using them, a spokesman said. Not one has done so.The palace had heard a number of UK newspapers were considering using them, a spokesman said. Not one has done so.
It believed publication of the photos - taken in a Las Vegas hotel room - would constitute an invasion of privacy.It believed publication of the photos - taken in a Las Vegas hotel room - would constitute an invasion of privacy.
One ex-editor says the decision not to use the photos shows the Leveson Inquiry has "neutered" UK newspapers. One ex-editor said the decision not to use the photos showed the Leveson Inquiry had "neutered" UK newspapers.
The inquiry, which is looking at press standards and the relationship between journalists and those in power, was launched last year in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal centred on the News of the World. The inquiry, which is looking at press standards and the relationship between journalists and those in power, was launched last year in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World.
Prince Harry, 27, is believed to be back in the UK after pictures of him and a young woman naked in a Las Vegas hotel room appeared on US gossip website TMZ.Prince Harry, 27, is believed to be back in the UK after pictures of him and a young woman naked in a Las Vegas hotel room appeared on US gossip website TMZ.
St James's Palace has confirmed the prince is in the photos and that it contacted the PCC on Wednesday because it had concerns about his privacy being intruded upon, in breach of the editors' code of practice.St James's Palace has confirmed the prince is in the photos and that it contacted the PCC on Wednesday because it had concerns about his privacy being intruded upon, in breach of the editors' code of practice.
The photos are believed to have been taken on a camera phone last Friday when the prince was on a private weekend break with friends.The photos are believed to have been taken on a camera phone last Friday when the prince was on a private weekend break with friends.
'Strip billiards'
TMZ reported that Harry had been pictured in a group playing "strip billiards".TMZ reported that Harry had been pictured in a group playing "strip billiards".
British papers may not have printed the pictures of Prince Harry, but they have reported the furore in full detail - and told readers where they can find the photos, which first surfaced on the TMZ entertainment website in the US.British papers may not have printed the pictures of Prince Harry, but they have reported the furore in full detail - and told readers where they can find the photos, which first surfaced on the TMZ entertainment website in the US.
In the past, some papers would have happily countered this with claims that the story was in the public interest, pointing out the risk posed to the prince's security. But for the moment, newspapers are playing safe, waiting for Leveson.In the past, some papers would have happily countered this with claims that the story was in the public interest, pointing out the risk posed to the prince's security. But for the moment, newspapers are playing safe, waiting for Leveson.
That has not stopped them discussing the full implications of Prince Harry's behaviour.That has not stopped them discussing the full implications of Prince Harry's behaviour.
It's a salutory reminder of the difficulty for Lord Justice Leveson in devising a tighter form of press regulation for the UK in a world where social media and the internet respect no boundaries.It's a salutory reminder of the difficulty for Lord Justice Leveson in devising a tighter form of press regulation for the UK in a world where social media and the internet respect no boundaries.
Whatever the Leveson Report says when it is published this autumn, it is certain to spark a new round of arguments about what sort of a press - and regulation - the UK wants.Whatever the Leveson Report says when it is published this autumn, it is certain to spark a new round of arguments about what sort of a press - and regulation - the UK wants.
The pictures have been picked up by much of the US media but no British newspapers have published them, although they have appeared on a political blog in the UK and the Sun has mocked up an image of one of them. The pictures have been picked up by much of the US media but no British newspaper has published them, although they have appeared on a political blog in the UK and the Sun mocked up an image of one of them on its front page.
Former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis told the BBC that before the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics and practices he would have published the pictures, but that the inquiry had "neutered" the press. Former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis told the BBC that before the Leveson Inquiry he would have published the pictures because it was in the public interest, but the inquiry had "neutered" the press.
Mr Wallis told BBC Two's Newsnight: "The situation is fun, it's a good, classic newspaper situation.
"The problem is in this post-Leveson era where newspapers are simply terrified of their own shadow, they daren't do things that most of the country, if they saw it in the newspaper, would think 'that's a bit of a laugh'.
"There would be no harm done and they would not think any worse of either the paper or of Prince Harry."
Mr Wallis said it would have been in the public interest to publish the pictures.
"He is third in line to the throne, he's been on the world stage for weeks and weeks, he is supposedly surrounded by police security officers," he said."He is third in line to the throne, he's been on the world stage for weeks and weeks, he is supposedly surrounded by police security officers," he said.
Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie, who also appeared on Newsnight, said the photos represented a "fantastic" story. However, former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the incident was a setback for the prince, undermining the charitable work and his military career.
Leveson reminder BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said it was a "reminder of the difficulty for Lord Justice Leveson in devising a tighter form of press regulation for the UK, in a world where social media and the internet respect no boundaries".
"Literally any journalist worth his salt, whether at one end of the market or the other, would have said: 'Thank you God'.
"It doesn't affect Prince Harry at all. He is single and he is cavorting with ladies who wish to be cavorted with," Mr MacKenzie said.
"So where are the issues? There are no issues except one - Leveson."
However, former royal protection officer Ken Wharfe said the incident was a setback for the prince and "really undermines the work that he has been doing in the last six months" in his charitable work and military career, which he said had "taken off in a fantastic direction".
But broadcaster Vanessa Feltz, an alleged victim of phone hacking, told the BBC what Prince Harry does in a private hotel room is "what we expect him to be doing".
"He's a young fellow, he's not married, he's not on state business, he's not representing the Queen, and any editor who says it's of no interest to anyone is quite right," she said.
BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said the press coverage surrounding Harry was a "reminder of the difficulty for Lord Justice Leveson in devising a tighter form of press regulation for the UK in a world where social media and the internet respect no boundaries".
Our correspondent said the Leveson Report, which is set to be published this autumn, is likely to spark a new round of arguments about what sort of a press and regulation is appropriate in the UK.

Harry's antics: Reaction elsewhere on the web

Harry's antics: Reaction elsewhere on the web

"There has never been a better time for the third in line to the throne to be photographed naked, with naked company, in a Las Vegas hotel room," said the >Times's leader, pointing out that Harry's recent "triumphant" Caribbean tour and "dutiful but joyful turn" at the Olympic Games earned him "a special place in the nation's heart". "There has never been a better time for the third in line to the throne to be photographed naked, with naked company, in a Las Vegas hotel room," said a >Times leader, pointing out that Harry's recent "triumphant" Caribbean tour and "dutiful but joyful turn" at the Olympic Games earned him "a special place in the nation's heart".
But he will need to tread carefully in the future. "It is a testament to his sheer likeability that Britain will most likely greet his latest, literal, revelations with a grin and an indulgent shrug. If he's still naked at 50, things may be different."But he will need to tread carefully in the future. "It is a testament to his sheer likeability that Britain will most likely greet his latest, literal, revelations with a grin and an indulgent shrug. If he's still naked at 50, things may be different."
The Daily Mirror's Alison Phillips said she had always had a soft spot for Harry. "Unlike the royal stuffed shirts, he seems genuine and a bit of a laugh. Which is why it was so disappointing when his aides called in lawyers to ban the pictures from UK newspapers - even though they're being published in Ireland." The Daily Mirror's Alison Phillips wrote: "Unlike the royal stuffed shirts, he seems genuine and a bit of a laugh. Which is why it was so disappointing when his aides called in lawyers to ban the pictures from UK newspapers - even though they're being published in Ireland."
She likened the royal household's reaction to 1936 when "the last people to know about Edward and Mrs Simpson's affair were the King's own subjects". Prince Harry "wasn't hurting anyone", she said, and he had "done us proud recently". Perhaps his aides needed to "follow his example and just chill out". Prince Harry "wasn't hurting anyone", she said, and he had "done us proud recently". Perhaps his aides needed to "follow his example and just chill out".
But for the Daily Mail's Amanda Platell, his recent achievements and image clean-up have made the Las Vegas scenes "so disappointing and genuinely shocking".But for the Daily Mail's Amanda Platell, his recent achievements and image clean-up have made the Las Vegas scenes "so disappointing and genuinely shocking".
The prince should have known better, she said, and questioned why no courtier or police protection officer stepped in.The prince should have known better, she said, and questioned why no courtier or police protection officer stepped in.
"Like his mother, Diana, Harry has incredible charm but he lacks judgment. Most worryingly, he is wilful in the pursuit of his own pleasure. It is partly because of Diana's tragic death that the public has forgiven him so much in the past."
She hopes he doesn't follow in the footsteps of that other "spare heir" - his uncle Prince Andrew - and looks instead to "his grandmother the Queen's example, finding happiness in marriage and satisfaction in duty".