Prince Harry attack foiled by BBC man

Nicholas Witchell, the veteran BBC reporter who has covered the Royal beat for the past ten years, has never been a favourite with the "The Firm". In 2005, the poor chap faced the scorn of the Prince of Wales during his annual ski trip to Klosters. Prince Charles was heard mumbling to his sons: "These bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is." It is a view apparently shared by Prince Harry.

This week, Witchell was singled out by the Prince on his trip to the African kingdom of Lesotho. Harry, who is helping to rebuild a special-needs school with his charity Sentebale, decided to start up a game of football to pass some free time. And he was a little over-keen to get Witchell on the pitch, according to a report in the Independent.

Says a source: "He ran up to Nick [Witchell] and started yelling: 'Where are your trainers? Where are your trainers? C'mon, you're playing'." No doubt fearing a shin-cracking, Witchell politely declined the offer. However, Harry did get a chance to lock horns with one member of press. Yesterday, the Sun printed a picture of him ungraciously flashing “loser” signs at the paper’s royal hack, Duncan Larcombe.