British royal family member targeted by blackmailers

October 29, 2007

London, England - London police have arrested two men over an attempt to blackmail a member of Britian's royal family with a sex and drugs tape.

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The men demanded $100,000 not to publicize a video, which they suggested showed the royal engaged in a sex act and using drugs.

After the approach from the two men in August, the royal tipped off Scotland Yard. Detectives then set up an undercover operation to trap the suspects.

On September 11, two men were arrested in a police sting at a London hotel. They were seized as they played what they claimed was the sex video in a suite at a London Hilton hotel.

The men thought they were showing the film to a member of the royal's staff. In fact, the man they met was an undercover detective from Scotland Yard's kidnap and blackmail unit.

The case is understood to be the first time in more than 100 years that a member of the royal family has been the victim of blackmail.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman would only say it was a police matter and Scotland Yard was investigating.

Police said two men, aged 30 and 40, appeared before magistrates on September 13 accused of blackmail and were remanded in custody.

They will next appear in court in December.