Kidnapping Stories Anger Royals

Buckingham Palace today strongly criticized reports that Prince Harry was returning to Britain after a kidnapping warning was received during his trip to a polo pony farm in Argentina.

A spokesman for Harry, the second son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, criticized front-page stories in most British newspapers that said police foiled a plot to kidnap the prince.

“I have seen the headlines,” the royal spokesman said. “It is just hugely irresponsible.”

He said Harry, third in line to the throne, was due back in Britain today as scheduled. Asked about the reported kidnapping plot, the spokesman said, “We never comment on security matters.”

Citing Argentine newspaper Pagina 12, the Times said a murder suspect tipped off the Argentine government about the plot.

The Times report said 15 armed officers were sent to patrol the ranch, in Lobos in the Pampa region, 60 miles southwest of Buenos Aires.

It said police fired shots into the air Wednesday night after detectives suspected kidnappers were near the ranch.

But local police said Thursday that shots near the horse ranch were nothing unusual. Lobos Mayor Gustavo Sobrero attributed the shots to hare hunters.

The British Embassy in Buenos Aires would not comment.