Prince Edward Accused of Beating Dog

An alarming trend of animal abuse is developing within the Royal Family.

Britain's Prince Edward is in hot water with animal rights charities after using a stick to break up a dog fight.

The 44-year-old Earl of Wessex was pictured in newspapers with his shotgun under his arm with his stick in the air and then with it very close to one of the dogs' heads.

The dogs were fighting over a dead pheasant during a shooting outing at Queen Elizabeth's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where the royals traditionally spend their winter break.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "It has not been determined that he did strike the dog.

Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, added: "It is an offence to cause an animal unnecessary suffering.

"Hitting a dog is a pathetic, cowardly and vicious act — it would appear he has had a royal tantrum."

It is not the first time that members of the royal family have been accused of animal cruelty during shoots.

Queen Elizabeth was photographed wringing the neck of a pheasant at Sandringham eight years ago.

Last year, Prince Harry, William's brother, was questioned by police over the shooting of two hen harriers, among Britain's rarest birds.