The Monarchy in Turmoil: Princess 'will receive pounds 15m'

A FRENCH magazine's claim that the Prince and Princess of Wales will divorce next year and that the Princess will receive a pounds 15m settlement and homes in London and the country is allegedly based on stolen proofs of a new book by Andrew Morton, writes Simon Midgley.

In an article headlined 'Diana: Slut or Martyr?', Voici, a weekly tabloid, says lawyers for the royal couple have already worked out the terms of their divorce. The piece appears to be based on information contained in a stolen copy of Diana: Her New Life, due to be published early next month. Mr Morton originally broke the story of the royal couple's unhappy marriage in 1992 in Diana: Her True Story.

There was no one available at Buckingham Palace yesterday to comment on the allegations.