Further Twist To Press Laws

It was revealed yesterday that the Prince and Princess of Wales used rival national newspapers to promote their marriage rift, while the press was being criticised for pressurising the couple and exploiting their situation. In a letter dated December 11, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission Lord McGregor wrote to Sir David Calcutt QC, pointing out that the commission had been misled about reports on the royal couple. “The actions of the Princess of Wales in this situation seriously embarrassed the commission” the letter states “and undermined the purpose of this carefully timed and emotively phrased statement of their attitude towards the reporting of the state of this marriage”.

The revelations will cast further doubt on Sir David’s report, presented to ministers on Friday, with royal manipulation of national newspapers tilting the situation slightly more in favour of the press.