London, Sep 14 (IANS) Prince Harry’s efforts to project a more dutiful image of himself may be thwarted by the internet posting of undignified photographs of the brother of his girlfriend. One of the photographs shows Shaun, brother of the Prince’s girl friend Chelsy Davy, sharing a pair of shorts with his girl friend, Anna Barnard. Another photograph catches Shaun with a knotted handkerchief on his head, as an unseen friend prepares to insert what look like cigarettes into his nostrils.

One picture shows him smoking a rolled up cigarette suspiciously looking like a cannabis joint. However, a statement released through the Prince of Wales’s solicitors Harbottle & Lewis said Shaun completely “denies” that the cigarette contains the illegal drug.

Shaun and his girl friend are part of Prince Harry’s social circle. They have been on trips abroad with the Prince, including to US, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. Shaun prominently featured in photographs showing Princes Harry and William at the London concert for the late Princess Diana in July.

A source close to Shaun is quoted by the Mail on Sunday: “Shaun happily posed for the pictures but he obviously doesn’t want to cause problems for his sister. The Princes and their girlfriends are told time and time again to be careful with what they do in public, and to be extra careful when being photographed to make sure there is nothing that can be potentially damaging. Shaun is aware of this but he’s a party person, just like his sister, and doesn’t feel as if he has to watch every move he makes.”

Shaun’s exposure comes in the wake of another royal embarrassment caused when the same website - theinternetforum.com - posted photographs showing James Middleton - the brother of Prince William’s girlfriend Kate - in similarly compromising positions.

The website has been live with hits and reactions ever since Shaun’s pictures appeared.

Here is a reaction from a viewer: “I agree (to some extent) that the siblings should be left alone. However, it does give insight to what the family is truly like behind closed doors, rather than the polished image some like to portray. I don’t see any problem with Shaun’s antics. He’s having fun with his girlfriend, not sitting naked in front of a fire or dressing up in women’s clothing. They look like any normal couple, just goofing off and having fun together. If this is the worst of her brother’s “scandelous” (sic) life then more power to him because so far he seems normal.”