Update 3 : It’s being reported that the victim of this blackmail plot is about “to go public”. Since his name is now widely known, his side of the story should be put frankly and fearlessly.

A nephew of the Queen is being named as the victim in the Royal blackmail plot. His name is now being widely touted on the internet, including the authoritative Huffington Post, quoting the Radar publication.

British journalist Nicholas Davies, author of three books on the Royal Family, revealed the name during a phone interview on American TV. Speaking from his Surrey home, Davies told host Martha MacCullum, “This is absolute nonsense, [...] would never be involved in anything like this. It is a con trick which exploded in their face.”

The Huff reports, “British law prohibits any of them from naming the hard-partying royal. As the tale goes, two men demanded £50,000 from 45-year-old [...] in return for footage allegedly showing a royal aide talking of gay sex with him. The aide is also allegedly seen on a video tape taking cocaine from an envelope embossed with [...] name.”

The Queen will be dismayed as he was always one of the good guys, as will his wife [...].

Update : The Telegraph online is reporting that the Queen will stand by her nephew in the current blackmail case and has offered her “unswerving support”.

The paper “has learnt that the Queen, who is very fond of her relative, is dismayed by the effect the revelation of an alleged £50,000 extortion attempt is having on him and his family”.

One source said: “It is a fraught time for him. He is grateful for the support of the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.”

Why would a young, pleasure-loving Cape Town girl choose the northern, industrial city of Leeds for her postgrad studies?

The oppressive northern weather is clearly getting to Chelsy Davy

Judging by the latest shots of her leaving a London nightspot at 3am, she’s obviously not enjoying her life at the moment.

Leeds has a great history. It was one of the major cotton manufacturing towns in the industrial revolution and has some magnificent municipal architecture to prove it. Nowadays it claims to have a vibrant social and clubbing scene and an impressive university.

However, nothing can disguise the cold, dark climate as winter draws in.

Chelsy is said to be missing her home town in South Africa and the sybaritic pleasures of her gap year, when she spent much of the time on the world’s finest beaches and dancing the night away in hotspot bars.

Her long-term boyfriend, Prince Harry, now an Army officer based at Windsor, is equally unhappy. Refused his wish to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the increasing dangers, he is losing interest in his Army career and spends much of his leisure time in nighclubs carousing with his friends.

Some reports suggest he has asked for a transfer to Catterick Camp in the North of England to be nearer to Chelsy. Both seem to be on the brink of giving up their current situations.

Royal Anecdotes’ advice to Chelsy is to switch from Leeds to a London college, like the LSE. Although she didn’t get the First Class degree she hoped for, I’m sure her connections could twist a few arms.

As for Harry, he might find more traction in his career by following his brother William into short stints with the RAF and Royal Navy.

It’s being reported in a number of Sunday newspapers that a blackmail attempt against a member of the Royal Family, involving a sex video and an envelope containing cocaine, has been foiled by Scotland Yard.

Clarence House

The attempt was allegedly made in August by two men, one 30 and another 40, who demanded payment of £50,000 ($102,500) in return for the video. That the sum was relatively small in the circumstances suggests this was carried out by amateurs rather than professional criminals.

The description of the contents of the video, which involves the participation of a Royal aide, has echoes of previous allegations, so may not involve younger members of the family. We won’t know, however, as a court hearing was held in camera and reporting restrictions are in place. Unless something pops up on the internet, we may never know the name of the alleged victim.

Update : Former Palace spokesman Dickie Arbiter has told the BBC, “It’s a vast family, there are nearly 40 members. Is it somewhere near the top? Is it in the middle, or is it down at the bottom? So they would have to determine that.

“We don’t know, we won’t know, until the case comes to trial at the Old Bailey in December, and we might not even know then, which member of the Royal Family [may be involved].

“It’s taken six weeks for it to come to light, so how serious is the allegation? It’s interesting too, that it’s come out in the Sunday Times and not one of the usual tabloid scoops. So it’s going to take the due process of the law to determine was this true or was this just another fake sting?”

Update 2 : The BBC is reporting that the alleged person involved is not a senior member of the Royal Family, and has a “low public profile”.

The London Evening Standard is reporting that Prince Philip, who is about to celebrate the longest marriage to a reigning Monarch, has a secret heart condition. He has suffered from it for the past 15 years.

Prince Philip (left) at the Highland Games this summer

The Prince, who is 86, suffered a bout of ill-health recently which caused much concern in the Royal Family. However, he has insisted on carrying out his busy schedule of Royal engagements.

The Palace has apparently brought forward the task of preparing Prince William and Prince Harry for their future official roles.

An aide told the paper, “Prince Philip in particular is acutely aware of the need to prepare for the future”.

The Duke “has to take medication regularly and his bodyguards and aides are on constant alert to take him to hospital instantly if he becomes dizzy or short of breath”.

An unnamed courtier said, “The Queen and the family have been been concerned about the Duke in recent weeks. He was not feeling himself and given his age and his heart condition, it added to the worry.”

But will he reduce his workload? “Who is going to tell him? To be blunt, the Duke is not somebody you tell what to do.”

On his return from Balmoral, he carried out eight engagements, said to include opening buildings, hosting receptions, lunches dinners and meetings.

Next month he will fly with the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla to the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Uganda. It’s the first time that Charles will accompanying his parents on such a high profile visit.

Other engagements next month include Philip accompanying the Queen on a private visit to Malta, where the couple lived before Elizabeth became Queen. There is also their Diamond Wedding service at Westminster Abbey and a party arranged by William and Harry.

A senior official commented, “The Duke of Edinburgh has lived with a heart condition for years for which he takes medication. Those who work close to him are informed of the symptoms and if he shows any sign of them he is to be taken straight to see a specialist. He has regular check ups but recently there has been some concern as he was feeling unwell. The concern is due, primarily, to his age.”

Three years ago, when he suffered bruising to his face after slipping in the bath, he reportedly told a journalist in typical fashion, “Do I look bloody ill.”