Thaindian News

London, Apr 10 (ANI): Prince Andrew’s daughters are among the latest high-profile figures to have been pulled into the News International phone-hacking affair.

Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice are suspected targets of the media empire’s hacking activities, and their father, the Duke of York, has privately expressed exasperation at the apparent breach of his family’s privacy, reports the Independent.

Suspicions that the princesses were targets arose after Eugenie was the subject of an attempted mugging while travelling in Cambodia with a friend two years ago.

The attack, in Phnom Penh during the girls’ gap year, was thwarted by bodyguards, but details of the incident quickly found their way into The Sun newspaper and other News International (NI) publications.

This is the first instance of the Royal Family being drawn into the phone-hacking row since the conviction of Clive Goodman, the News of the World’s royal editor four years ago.

Goodman pleaded guilty to intercepting messages left on phones of aides to Princes William and Harry and was jailed for four months.

Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator used to carry out the interceptions, was jailed for six months.

It is understood Prince Andrew, himself the subject of intense media scrutiny, and his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, also believe they were personally targeted.

Prince Andrew, though angered by what he sees as the intrusion into his daughters’ lives, has no plans to take the matter further. (ANI)