DRUG ROW HARRY ESCAPES EXPULSION

PRINCE Harry will escape expulsion from Eton College after he admitted
smoking cannabis, despite the school's policy of automatic dismissal for
pupils found to have dabbled in drugs.

The 17-year-old prince risked the school's ultimate sanction after he
admitted to Prince Charles that he had smoked cannabis at Highgrove, at a
nearby pub and at private parties in Gloucestershire last summer.

In recent years, several pupils have been expelled for involvement with
drugs under the hardline policy operated by Eton headmaster John Lewis.

Mr Lewis was informed by Prince Charles of the young prince's admissions
but chose not to enforce the school's normal policy of expulsion. Instead,
he decided to limit his weekend passes from the college to deny him the
opportunity to indulge in drinking and drug taking.

Last night, a spokesman for St James's Palace said he did not believe that
there was any plan for the Prince to face further disciplinary action.

"I don't believe there is," he said. "But that is a private matter for
Eton, Harry and the family. It is a personal matter for them."

Mr Lewis has made it clear that expulsion is the automatic penalty for the
use, possession or sale of illegal drugs. Those who have fallen foul of the
drugs policy include Florian MacLaren, son of Donald MacLaren, head of the
clan MacLaren, who was shown the door in 1998. The following year, a
15-year-old pupil was expelled for attempting to buy drugs from an
undercover police officer in London.

Prince Harry left Eton College yesterday morning to spend the day at
Highgrove. He had lunch with his father and elder brother William and was
due to return to the school last night.

After Harry confessed to his father that he had smoked cannabis, the Prince
of Wales arranged for his son to visit a drug rehabilitation centre in
London where he could see at first hand the effects of drugs on the lives
of regular users.

Yesterday, Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, called for a
sensible debate about the relaxation of the cannabis laws.

"Households right across the country waking up to this story today will
probably either have had very similar experiences with their own teenagers,
or live in the apprehension that they might," he said.

"Clearly, there is a case to be looked at on decriminalisation when you now
have so many judicial figures, senior police figures and politicians saying
there is."

Tony Blair, whose own son Euan was found drunk and incapable in Leicester
Square at the age of 16, was quick to praise Prince Charles's handling of
what he acknowledged was a difficult situation, saying: "I know this myself.

"I think the way that Prince Charles and the Royal Family have handled it
is absolutely right and they have done it in a very responsible and, as you
would expect, in a very sensitive way for their child."

The Prime Minister added that it would probably have been unrealistic to
have tried to suppress the story, but last night the Press Complaints
Commission warned newspapers and magazines that they must still respect the
privacy of princes William and Harry.

Guy Black, director of the industry watchdog, said all publications must
honour their pledge to spare the young Royals from media intrusion into
their lives. "The newspapers and magazines have been extremely good in
respecting the privacy of both the princes over the last couple of years
and there is no expectation that will change. It is important to underline
that this was an exceptional matter of public interest," he said.

Nobody from Eton was available for comment.