Police have arrested two men over an attempt to blackmail a member of the British royal family with an alleged sex tape, a newspaper reported.
The Sunday Times said the pair had approached the unnamed family member and demanded 50,000 pounds (US$100,000) not to publicize a video allegedly showing the royal engaged in a sex act. The blackmailers also claimed to have evidence suggesting the royal had supplied an aide with an envelope containing cocaine, the newspaper said.
The newspaper said it could not identify the royal family member for legal reasons.
It said the blackmailers' target contacted police and two suspects were arrested at a London hotel on Sept. 11 after an undercover police operation.
Buckingham Palace could not immediately be reached for comment.
In response to queries about the report, London police said only that two men, aged 30 and 40, had appeared at a London court on Sept. 13 charged with blackmail. They were ordered detained until a hearing at London's Central Criminal Court on Dec. 20. The force would give no details of the case or identify the suspects.