Uncle of Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, charged with assault in London

LONDON: British police say they've charged the uncle of the Duchess of Cambridge with assault after a late-night altercation in a London street.

The Metropolitan Police force says Gary Goldsmith faces a charge of assault by beating over an incident near his home Friday at 1:20 a.m. British newspapers reported Saturday that the alleged victim is his wife, Julie-Ann Goldsmith.

Goldsmith has been released on bail and is due in court on Oct. 31.


(Image: AP)

Goldsmith is brother of the duchess' mother Carole Middleton and attended his niece's 2011 royal wedding to Prince William.

Often depicted as Kate's wayward uncle, Goldsmith once owned a house in Spain called "La Maison de Bang Bang.'' He was filmed in 2009 by an undercover reporter apparently taking cocaine and bragging about his royal connections.


(Image: BCCL)