A man has appeared in court charged with robbing a friend of Prince Harry as he chatted to him on the phone in a Battersea street.

Winful Taylor, from Stockwell, was charged with robbery and appeared at Kingston Crown Court this morning.

Mr Taylor, 27, is expected to enter a not guilty plea during his next court appearance - a trial is expected to take place this summer.

The Prince drove to help Thomas van Straubenzee, after receiving a call from his friend, following the incident in Albert Bridge Road on November 30.

Harry immediately rushed to his aid, taking his royal protection officer with him.

Initially Mr Van Straubenzee could not be found but he turned up at Lavender Hill police station where the crime was reported.

Harry, 27, then gave a statement to detectives and this means he may have to give evidence in the trial as he is a witness.

At the time, a Clarence House spokesman said: "Prince Harry joined a friend at a police station in south London after his friend had reported a robbery.

"By the time Prince Harry arrived to be with his friend, the police investigation into the incident had already begun."

Mr van Straubenzee, who is also close friends with Prince William, first met Harry at Ludgrove Prep School. Also known as "Van", he accompanied the Prince on his first official tour to New Zealand.

The royal brothers are patrons of a memorial fund dedicated to Mr van Straubenzee's brother, Henry, who was killed in a car crash in 2002.

Mr Taylor, who is being held in custody, will be asked to offer a plea at Kingston Crown Court on May 4.