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A trusted former aide to Prince Philip and Princess Anne will face court next week accused of sexually assaulting a girl of 12 while he was working for the Royal Family in the early 70s.

Ex-Marine Benjamin Herman, 79, has been charged with three counts of indecent assault and one of attempted indecent assault on the child when he was Philip’s equerry – or personal attendant – at Buckingham Palace.

The Lieutenant-Colonel later went on to become Princess Anne’s private secretary, before returning to the military.

Detectives at Scotland Yard are believed to have examined the prince’s official diaries covering the two-year period from January 1972 to January 1974, when the attacks are alleged to have taken place.

They have also taken statements from former palace staff but it is not known if officers have quizzed Philip or any other members of the Royal Family about the claims.

The alleged victim, who is now in her 50s, came forward in the wake of the Jimmy Savile child abuse scandal.

Herman is due to appear before Wimbledon magistrates in South London on Monday.

Tonight he said he intended to fight the allegations. When asked to comment he looked shocked and added: “I don’t talk to the press.”

But when asked whether he planned to deny the charges, he replied sharply “of course” before climbing into his car.

(Image: Reuters)

Earlier in the day Herman – a grandfather – left his £600,000 home in Hook, Hampshire, wearing smart chinos, desert boots and a blue and white checked shirt before heading to the town’s train station nearby.

He had been on bail since he was arrested 18 months ago after voluntarily attending a police station.

Today a Crown Prosecution Service spokesman confirmed he faced three counts of indecent assault on a girl and one of attempted indecent assault.

Herman was Philip’s equerry from 1971 to 1974, during which time he shadowed the royal at the Palace and on public and private engagements.

(Image: Wenn)

He became head of ­Princess Anne’s household when she married in 1974, with reports at the time claiming she had picked him to be her private secretary herself from her father’s staff. He returned to the Marines two years later.

During his career he served with 40 Commando, Royal Marines, and was made Military Assistant and Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant General Royal Marines.

At the time of the alleged offences Herman lived at Windsor, Berkshire, but also had a base at Wellington Barracks, near the Palace.