A Sun reporter is the latest to be charged in Scotland Yard's probe into alleged corrupt payments.

Senior royal correspondent Duncan Larcombe, 37, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today to face the charge.

Larcombe, of High Street, Aylesford, is alleged to have paid more than £23,000 to John Hardy, 43, who served as a Colour Sergeant at the Royal Military Training Academy at Sandhurst, and his 39-year-old wife, Claire Hardy, for stories connected to the royal family or Sandhurst.

He is jointly charged with two others with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between February 9 2006 and October 16 2008.

All the charges have come as a result of investigations under Operation Elveden.

He was released on unconditional bail to appear at Southwark Crown Court on June 3.