Prince Harry tries to help mugged friend, source says

Prince Harry recently returned from the US, where he was finishing his Apache helicopter training

Prince Harry drove to south London to try to find a friend who was mugged while speaking to the royal on his mobile phone, according to a source.

The source told the Press Association the prince searched for Thomas van Straubenzee in Battersea after hearing the alleged robbery on 30 November.

They said the prince, 27, followed his "intuition" to the police station where his friend was giving a statement.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "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."

The Press Association's source said Mr van Straubenzee's Blackberry mobile phone had been stolen and that Prince Harry had given police a witness statement.

Scotland Yard said police were investigating an allegation of personal robbery on 30 November in Albert Bridge Road.

"A mobile phone was taken during the robbery. This allegation was taken seriously, as are all allegations of robbery, " a police spokesman said.

"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.

"The property has been recovered. (There were) no reports of any injuries."

Prince Harry and Mr van Straubenzee - known as Van - first met at Ludgrove Prep School. Mr van Straubenzee accompanied the prince on his first official tour to New Zealand.