Former GCHQ chief denies royal bugs

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Rumours were rife by 1993 that GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) may have been behind the infamous Squidgygate and Camillagate tapes.

Under the law GCHQ would have needed to get the Foreign Secretary to sign off on such a phone tap and no such green light from the Government was sought, the Diana, Princess of Wales inquest heard.

Sir John Adye, the GCHQ director between 1989 and 1996, said: "It could not have been done without a warrant."

Ian Burnett QC, for the coroner, said: "And intercepting the Royal Family is simply not within the scope of the intelligence the government was seeking?"

Sir John replied: "Indeed, it was not."

Mr Burnett asked: "And there was no such warrant?" Sir John answered: "I am sure there was no such warrant."

On the tapes, James Gilbey, who was named as one of the princess's lovers, repeatedly told her "I love you" and referred to her as "Squidgy" 53 times.

A conversation between the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles (now the Duchess of Cornwall) in the early 1990s was also recorded and came to light around the same time.

Sir John told the jury he was "satisfied" that GCHQ had not been involved in those tapes. And in an "unprecedented" move, given the intelligence services golden rule never to comment on its operations, a statement was released denying any involvement.