Clarence House has not commented on the case

Clive Goodman, 48, and Glenn Mulcaire, 35, appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

They are both accused of one count of conspiring to intercept voicemail messages and eight counts of intercepting voicemail messages.

They were released on unconditional bail until a hearing on 29 November.

Mr Goodman, of Putney, west London, who has been suspended from his job at the Sunday newspaper, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

District Judge Timothy Workman told the writer his case was being transferred to the Old Bailey.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1 January last year and 9 August this year.

The charges against Mr Goodman and Mr Mulcaire, of Sutton, Surrey, followed claims by staff from the Prince of Wales's household that security breaches had taken place within its phone network.