Prince Charles drops inheritance tax plan

The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, has abandoned a plan to try to avoid paying part of the inheritance tax due on the assets left by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Because it appears that Diana made no new will after the couple's divorce last year, the Prince was hoping for court approval to revise their divorce settlement.

This would have reduced the tax payable on the thirty-million dollars seventeen million poundsshe received then.

Earlier, it was announced that the former prime minister, John Major, would act as an independent advisor in the proceedings to the couple's two young sons, fifteen year-old Prince William and thirteen year-old Prince Harry.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service