Prince Harry rushes to help friend being mugged

Prince Harry rushed to help a friend who was mugged while they were speaking on the phone, it has been reported.

The royal heard the robbery taking place and drove to Battersea, South West London, to try and help Thomas van Straubenzee.

Harry couldn't locate his friend and so visited the local police station, where van Straubenzee was already reporting the crime.

Van Straubenzee's BlackBerry mobile phone was taken during the attack on 30 November, but was later recovered after a suspect was arrested and bailed.

No-one was injured during the mugging and Harry gave a witness statement to police while at the station, according to Sky News.

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. The investigation is ongoing, so we cannot comment further."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman added: "Police are investigating an allegation of personal robbery which occurred at approximately 20:30hrs on Wednesday, 30 November in Albert Bridge Road, SW11. A mobile phone was taken during the robbery.

"This allegation was taken seriously, as are all allegations of robbery. A man was arrested on Thursday, 1 December on suspicion of robbery and bailed to return in January 2012 pending further enquiries. Police from Wandsworth are investigating."