Timeline: Royal troubles

The Prince of Wales has issued an unprecedented statement, denying an unspecified allegation that a newspaper was legally banned from publishing. BBC News Online outlines the events that led to such a move.

Prince Charles' statement was an unusual move

Saturday 1 November

The Mail on Sunday is banned from publishing a story about a former Royal servant.

Sunday 2 November

The Mail on Sunday's front page story is about the injunction. It claims a senior Royal had also written to it, requesting the allegation not be published.

Monday evening 3 November

The Guardian newspaper is banned from naming the person who asked for the injunction against the Mail on Sunday.

Wednesday 5 November

The Guardian goes to court to argue it has a right to name the person who asked for the injunction, without publishing details of the allegation the person wanted suppressed.

Thursday 6 November

Afternoon
After a two-day private hearing, the Guardian newspaper wins a legal bid to have the injunction lifted. It successfully argued it had a right to name Michael Fawcett as the former Royal servant who had asked for the injunction against the Mail of Sunday.

Evening
Clarence House, Prince Charles' official residence, issues a statement in a bid to end speculation. It says the allegation that the Mail on Sunday was planning to publish was untrue.

Sir Michael Peat, the prince's private secretary, gives a television interview, expanding on the statement. He says the allegations are untrue and ludicrous.