The Queen will not have to give evidence to Princess Diana's inquest.

The coroner ruled yesterday that it would not be 'expedient' to hear from either the monarch or Prince Philip.

Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mohamed Al Fayed, had called for Philip to testify in person at the High Court, in London. He had also asked for a series of questions be put to the Queen.

But after reviewing his request Lord Justice Scott Baker said: "In my judgment it is not expedient to call the Duke of Edinburgh to give evidence, nor do I think that the Queen should be asked to answer questions posed by Mr Mansfield.

"Neither step will, in my judgment, further the inquest process."

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Mr Al Fayed claims Princess Diana and his son Dodi were killed by MI6 as part of an Establishment plot masterminded by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Yesterday the spokesman for the Harrods tycoon demanded that Scotland Yard withdraw a claim that he was part of a "conspiracy to pervert the truth".

At the inquest, Michael Cole, a former BBC reporter, called on the barrister for the Met Police to take back a suggestion that Mr Cole was part of a plot to exaggerate Diana and Dodi's relationship.

Full article here.