Diana denies rift with Prince William over stag shooting

DIANA, Princess of Wales, has dismissed reports that she is deeply concerned over the interest being shown by Prince William in hunting.

In a statement yesterday she said she would not question her 14-year-old son's participation in the sport, and that it was not a matter of dispute between them. She said that she and the Prince had a very close relationship and she respected his interests in every arena and would not question them.

There has been media speculation that the Princess was unhappy after it was disclosed in The Telegraph last week that the Prince had shot his first stag on a stalking beat at the Queen's Balmoral estate. Her aide said the Princess had described one front-page story, published yesterday, as being "cruel in its inaccuracies".

The Princess, who may not share her son's enthusiasm for hunting, was clearly hoping that her statement would discourage speculation that his action had driven a wedge between them.

Anti-field sports campaigners were incensed that Prince William was following the royal tradition of hunting. They claimed widespread disapproval of his actions among the public. In its report last Wednesday, The Telegraph said the kill would have delighted the Prince, who had displayed a keen enthusiasm for shooting in recent years. He took the stag last month on the Spittal, at the western end of Loch Muick and below the hill known as Broad Cairn.

Traditionally, a person shooting his or her first stag would be "blooded" - smeared on the face with blood from the kill. But it was unclear whether Prince William indulged in this practice.

The Prince's interest in shooting has been encouraged by his father and by Tiggy Legge-Bourke, the Prince of Wales's assistant. Miss Legge-Bourke, 30, who is reputed to be a good shot, killed an 18-stone stag at Balmoral last year. Prince William's brother, Prince Harry, went shooting at the weekend with his father.

The Prince of Wales, with the help of Miss Legge-Bourke, was entertaining guests, including King Harald of Norway and Queen Sonja, at Sandringham House. Also there were the Duke of Westminster and his sister, the former Lady Jane Grosvenor.

On Sunday they attended West Newton parish church, three miles from Sandringham House. Sandringham Church is closed as it is being rewired. Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys Jones, who were spending the weekend at the nine-bedroom Wood Farmhouse at Wolferton, were among the party.

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