Charles flies home to media storm
By Diana Muriel
CNN Correspondent
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Charles has been in Oman as the allegations swirled.
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Prince Charles is returning home from a state visit to Oman as British newspapers publish more details surrounding allegations made by a former royal servant involving the heir to the throne.
The Mail on Sunday insists it can back up the story, although it does not print the claims themselves.
A court injunction prevents British media from repeating the allegations, and Prince Charles has already denied they are true.
On this week's front page, the tabloid promised in a banner headline: "World Exclusive - Charles And His Valet: The True Story."
But the paper is careful not to name names, other than its source for the story -- former royal servant George Smith.
And it gives no specific details of an alleged incident Smith claims to have witnessed, except to say it involves a senior royal.
But Prince Charles has already confirmed he is the royal they're talking about -- and that the claims are not true.
"There's a growing crisis," says royal commentator Robert Jobson. "Prince Charles and his staff will have to address this issue over the weekend.
"There'll be constant discussions when Prince Charles flies back from Oman, where he has been on an official visit, and I think they are going to have to come out with a better strategy than the one with which they came out already."
On Thursday, Charles' office at Clarence House in London issued a pre-emptive statement saying he was the "senior royal" involved in the allegations. (Full statement)
The statement said the allegations were untrue, and Charles' private secretary Sir Michael Peat has dismissed them as "totally ludicrous." (Full story)
The Mail on Sunday declined to give an interview, but a spokesman told CNN: "The paper speaks for itself. ... Everything has been carefully checked by our lawyers."
Fawcett sought an injunction against publication.
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The newspaper has taken out advertising on British national television promoting its Sunday edition.
But an injunction against publication of the story, which remains in force in England and Wales, was successfully sought last weekend by Michael Fawcett, a former personal aide to Prince Charles.
While no details of the allegations can be published or broadcast in the UK for legal reasons, they have appeared in an Italian newspaper and on Web sites.
Now that the story is effectively out, what action might the prince take?
"I don't think the Prince of Wales will go to court," Jobson said. "I've spoken to his aides, who've said that they feel that it is such a ludicrous allegation that it's not worth taking legal action.
"I personally think that was a mistake. If it was such a serious allegation -- which it is -- they should have simply waited to see if the newspaper would actually print those allegations and then take legal action."
The Mail on Sunday may have taken the view "publish and be damned" -- but many royal observers say it's the prince who could be most damaged by this latest allegation of royal scandal -- not the paper.
