London, Dec 3 (IANS) A royal musician accused of carrying out a string of burglaries was addicted to heroin during her time as Prince Charles’s harpist, she told a court.
Jemima Phillips, who was appointed Charles’s harpist in 2004, told a court in Gloucester Wednesday she started using crack cocaine, and then heroin five years ago.

Phillips, 28, who performed at Charles’s wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 and other royal events attended by the Queen, is accused of stealing cash and electrical goods in four raids on private homes carried out along with her boyfriend.

In her three years as the Prince’s harpist she played at royal residences, including Balmoral Castle, Clarence House and Highgrove, as well as the House of Commons.

Phillips told the court she had endured a string of “disastrous” relationships and started using crack cocaine after having her second abortion.

The court heard that shortly afterwards she started a relationship with a man who introduced her to heroin and violently beat her.

Phillips said although she fled from him and returned to her parents’ home in Gloucestershire, her heroin habit “increased”.

She met co-defendant William Davies on a street corner in Gloucester in January this year, when he gave her a bag of heroin.

Prosecutor Martin Steen said the pair raided four homes between May 22 and May 28 and stole a handbag, TV, guitar, mobile phones, cameras, wallets, bank cards and laptops - which she denies.