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”.

Prince Harry has finally flown solo as Patron of one of his four charities. As the picture shows, he certainly seemed to impress the girls.

Prince Harry at MapAction

During his visit, he met volunteers and donors of MapAction, a charity devoted to delivering maps and information to workers and NGOs in disaster zones.

Harry’s military expertise in logistics and intelligence, which he learned as a reconnaissance officer with the Blues and Royals, will be used to improve the service provided by the charity.

It is believed he will become more directly involved next year when his three-year commission with the Army is expected to end.

Prince Harry at the charity MapAction

The Prince clearly took to the Royal engagement process like a coot to a pond, impressing everyone with his warm personality and interest in people — especially the girls.

Kate Middleton is said to believe she and Prince William will be engaged by Christmas, according to sources close to the couple.

One source said, “Actually, word is that William and Kate had a row recently over the way in which he continues to confide in two of his closest girlfriends about matters of the heart. Apparently he had always planned to go up to Balmoral for the end of the stalking season but he decided to take Kate with him in an effort to make it up to her.”

The source continued, “Kate has now started telling people to expect an engagement by Christmas, although no-one really thinks that it will come to that so soon. William still wants to wait another year or so.

“That said, he does want to get married before his father accedes to the throne as he would like to have a family of his own before he has to take on the responsibility of being Prince of Wales.”

So the old reticences are still there, but who can doubt that this will end in the Abbey sometime in the next two years?

The supposed meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral may well have taken place in London earlier, probably before they “came out” (again) as a couple two weeks ago.

However, for anyone who still believes that Kate Middleton is not now an informal part of the Royal Family, these shots of her practising shooting techniques under the supervision of Prince Charles should confirm it.

Princes have always been associated with the armed services, so shooting and hunting have been part of their military training and keeping their hand in. City folk sometimes forget that aspect of hunting.

Kate is a very sporty girl, as we saw during her training for the cross-channel dragon boat race. It’s not surprising then that she has thrown herself into the basic Balmoral routines of stalking, shooting and yomping across the hills in all weathers.

Prince William is nowhere to be seen here. It looks like she’s getting a few lessons from her future father-in-law and a ghillie of the estate.

One thing’s for sure, Kate will be no plaster Royal.