Ananova:

Prince Harry was "in the area" when two rare protected birds of prey were allegedly shot dead on one of The Queen's estates, royal officials have said.

But the Prince had "no knowledge" of the alleged shooting on the Sandringham estate near King's Lynn, Norfolk, and could not help police, a royal spokesman said.

Officers are investigating a complaint that the hen harriers were killed late last Wednesday. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is assisting the inquiry.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House said Prince Harry was in the area with a friend at the time the birds were allegedly killed.

She said: "Because Prince Harry and a friend were both in the area at the time, the police have been in contact with them and asked them if they have any information that could help. Unfortunately they had no knowledge of the alleged incident."

The Queen, Prince Harry's grandmother, is the patron of the RSPB.

And RSPB officials said they are "disappointed" that such an investigation is taking place on a royal estate.

In November 2006, the RSPB expressed "disappointment" after a gamekeeper at Sandringham was fined £500 for illegally using a trap.

Dean Wright, 26, of Anmer, Norfolk, admitted setting a trap in which a tawny owl got caught.

Magistrates in King's Lynn were told that the bird - which had to be killed after injuring a leg - was caught in a clearing at Shernborne, a village on the estate, in December 2005.