Elaine Day, a 45 year old former Clarence House secretary has taken a claim of sexual harassment and unfair dismissal to an Employment Tribunal.

Day has accused Paul Kefford her former boss who is gay of harassment including inappropriate and frequent approaches including back rubbing and shoulder touching.

The defence claim that Day was well aware of Kefford’s sexuality and say that he posed no sexual threat to her.

Day who ousted Prince Charles’ confidential views on the British education system on which he poured scorn is accused of stealing a controversial memo on the subject written by the Prince to his then deputy private secretary, Mark Bolland.

She admitted to taking the handwritten note which she said she wanted to keep as ‘memorabilia’.

The news has sparked a row in which the Prince has been lambasted by the media and Education Secretary Charles Clarke for his view that ‘people should not try to rise above their station’.

Charles is reported to have written: “people think they can all be pop stars, high court judges, brilliant TV personalities or infinitely more competent heads of state without ever putting in the necessary work or having natural ability.”

The Prince claims his views have been misinterpreted.

The emergence of the memo has caused a row about teachers’ roles in trying to encourage pupils to fulfil their ambitions.

Day worked for the Royal Household for five years before resigning in April this year.

The hearing continues.