Privates on parade for Prince Harry

LONDON - Britain's Prince Harry was forced to drop his trousers during a military parade to prove he did not have his girlfriend's name tattooed on his royal rear, a British newspaper has reported.

The 21-year-old son of Prince Charles is halfway through his British Army officer training course at the elite Sandhurst academy.

The Sun, Britain's biggest-selling daily, said Harry, third in line to the throne, was ordered to bare his bum after rumours spread he'd had blonde, Zimbawean-born girlfriend Chelsy Davy's name inked on.

During a parade, a colour sergeant yelled: "Cadet Wales, drop your pants and show me your backside!"

Harry, apparently oblivious to the rumour, replied: "Are you serious?" before being ordered: "Just get them off, I want to see if it's true", The Sun said.

The prince had his trousers around his knees before the grinning colour sergeant said: "It's OK, Wales, I'll take your word for it!"

An unnamed member of Harry's platoon told The Sun: "It was the funniest thing any of us have seen for ages. Everyone had heard the rumour but no one wanted to ask Harry if it was true."

The Sun said the manner in which Harry took the joke on the chin proved the young prince was "made of the Right Stuff".

- REUTERS