The Queen settles with 'Sun'

The Queen agreed to drop her action against the Sun for breach of copyright after the newspaper published a statement of regret at having caused her offence by printing the contents of her Christmas message in advance.

The Queen accepted the newspaper's offer of a pounds 200,000 payment to charity, asking that it be split between Save the Children and the Leonard Cheshire Foundation.

Buckingham Palace said the purpose of the action had been to establish that the Queen had a right to keep her speech secret until it was delivered. Its release in advance had offended both the Queen and those who liked to hear it for the first time on Christmas day.