Tension between Palace and press watchdog

Lord Wakeham with Prince Charles and Prince William

The relationship between the Queen's most senior media adviser and The Press Complaints Commission has ended following newspaper revelations about the Countess of Wessex.

The PCC, which mediates relationships between the Royal Family and the media, is believed to be angry that its chairman Lord Wakeham has been implicated in an interview given by the Countess to the News of the World.

The PCC will now deal with the Queen's Private Secretary Sir Robin Janvrin and not Simon Walker, the Queen's Communications Secretary,

It marks a deterioration in the Palace's relationship with the PCC which has tried to ensure a better press for the Royal Family since it was set up in 1991.

The PCC intervened when The Sun showed a photograph of a topless Sophie Rhys-Jones

The Countess gave the interview to the News of the World in return for them not publishing a conversation she had with an undercover journalist in which she allegedly made disparaging remarks about several public figures.

In it she is reported to have said her husband was not gay and that she was able to have children.

A senior palace official is reported to have described her conduct as "naive at best".

Lord Wakeham is said to be furious at suggestions from the Palace that he advised the Countess to give the interview to the Sunday newspaper.

Secret videotapes

The News of the World agreed to hand over secret videotapes of the conversation to Buckingham Palace in return for the exclusive interview with the Countess.

The relationship between the PCC and the Royal Family seemed to be better than ever two months ago when Prince William made his first official public engagement at the commission's 10th anniversary party.

The PCC intervened to protect Prince William while he was growing up

It was seen as an unofficial thank you for the role the PCC played in ensuring the privacy of princes William and Harry, especially after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

Her death led to a code of practice with new rules about the use of paparazzi photographers and greater protection for the under-16s.

The PCC also intervened in 1999 when a topless picture of the Countess of Wessex was printed in The Sun.

The newspaper later apologised for its behaviour.