Sir Michael, the magician The Prince of Wales's private secretary pulled off his best trick in front of the most demanding of audiences when he revealed his damning report into St James's Palace, writes ANDREW ALDERSON

From: The Sunday Telegraph London | Date: March 16, 2003| Author: | Copyright information

As Sir Michael Peat revealed the results of his four-month inquiry into the aftermath of the collapsed Paul Burrell theft trial on Thursday morning, he did not resemble a man who was preparing for the gallows.

In front of him, in the elegant surroundings of the Ascot office at St James's Palace, was a gathering of nearly 50 journalists, many of whom had predicted that the investigation would be worthless and a waste of public money.

Yet Sir Michael, the private secretary to the Prince of Wales for just seven months, had the confidence of a magician who was just about to perform his best trick ...

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