Two men have been charged with intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages following an investigation into allegations that the phone calls of staff working for Prince Charles were illegally accessed.

News of the World Royal editor Clive Goodman, aged 48, from Putney, and Glenn Mulcaire, aged 35, of Sutton, south London, have been charged with illegal interception of communications and conspiracy offences.

The two were among three men arrested by police on Tuesday following complaints from workers at the prince's official residence, Clarence House. The third man was released without charge.

Goodman and Mulcaire are jointly charged with eight counts of unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages between 3 January and 30 May 2006, contrary to Section One of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Both also face a separate conspiracy to intercept communications charge.

Police searched a number of business premises as part of their investigation, including the Wapping offices of the News of the World. ®

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