Police may question Charles over letter

Prince Charles faced the public yesterday amid growing speculation that he would be interviewed by police over a letter written by Diana, Princess of Wales in which she said she suspected him of plotting her murder in a car crash.

The Prince of Wales chose the opening of the Hereford Haven, a breast cancer support centre, to make his first public appearance since the coroner to the Queen's Household, Michael Burgess, asked Sir John Stevens to head a police inquiry into deaths of the Princess and Dodi Fayed.

Yesterday Sir John, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, asked Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Brown to take over as head of the investigation from Commander David Armond, in recognition of the size of the task facing his force. Sir John confirmed he would oversee the investigation.

Sir John also hinted that royal witnesses would not be excluded from the inquiry. "The MPS will thoroughly examine all matters that will assist in preparation of the inquests," he said. "Although it is over six years since the sad events in Paris, all relevant evidence will be carefully considered."

A crowd of around 100 cheered the Prince as he arrived at the Haven Trust.One man shouted: "Well done, Charles, the country is behind you!"A woman added: "Keep your chin up, Charles."

In a separate development Mr Burgess's predecessor, former royal coroner Dr John Burton, tried to extinguish growing speculation that Diana was pregnant when she died.

Dr Burton, who was coroner to the Queen's Household when Diana was killed, insisted he had always said she was not pregnant. He said the examination of the Princess's womb was a routine procedure.