London:
Prosecutors have charged a former top official working for Britain's royal family with accepting more than 100,000 pounds (USD 169,000) in bribes in return of contracts for work at royal palaces.
Attorney Luke Bulpitt of the specialist crime division said that former deputy property manager, Ron Harper, is accused of taking bribes between 2006 and 2011 from firms providing maintenance, heating and electrical services. Bulpitt says that the firms were awarded large contracts at the palaces.
Two of the firms later received "Royal Warrants" an honorary stamp of approval for companies which regularly supply goods and services to the monarch, the Duke of Edinburgh or Prince Charles.
One of Harper's relatives is also charged in connection with the offences, along with eight current and former directors of various firms.