Controversy over raunchy pictures of Prince Harry

Yesterday's cover of The Sun newspaper.

UK's The Sun newspaper was yesterday forced to defend its publication of a picture of Prince Harry fondling a woman in a nightclub after it emerged that the photograph was three years old.

The paper, which has scored a number of royal scoops based on embarrassing pictures of the prince, claimed the photograph of Harry kissing a blonde friend with his hand on her breast had been taken this summer in a trendy London nightspot, Boujis.

But Clarence House said the photograph, accompanied by the headline "Dirty Harry", was taken in 2003 at another night club called Purple, which was located in the basement of Chelsea Football Club and has since closed.

The 21-year-old prince and his party lifestyle have become a circulation-boosting staple for red top tabloids and celebrity gossip magazines.

But royal aides were pains to point out that age of the picture meant it had been taken before Harry, now an officer in the Household Cavalry, met his current girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.

The newspaper stated that Ms Davy was not in the picture because she was abroad.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: "We have contacted the Sun and asked them to make a correction. The pictures are three years out of date."

Aides said the photograph had not been printed with the permission of their owner, Natalie Pinkham, a presenter for a poker television channel and the friend pictured with Harry.

The Sun insisted there were no doubts over the authenticity of the front page picture, one of a series showing Harry on a night out with Prince William sipping cocktails and talking to a number of female friends.

A double-page spread of the two princes carried the headline Booze Brothers.

But the paper confirmed it was re-examining its claims for where and when the photographs were taken.

A spokesman said: "We bought the photographs and negatives of our favourite playboy prince, which were taken in a popular London venue attended by members of the public.

"Clarence House have informed us they have concern over precisely when and in which nightclub the pictures were taken and we are discussing these matters with them."

Harry is no stranger to controversies generated by pictures of his nocturnal activities in The Sun.

The paper last year showed the prince dressed in Nazi uniform at a fancy dress party.

Harry was forced to make a public apology.

- INDEPENDENT