Princess Diana is denying that English rugby captain Will Carling was her lover and has appealed to him to do the same, newspapers reported Wednesday.
"They were neither romantically nor sexually involved," the Daily Express quoted an unidentified friend of Diana's as saying. The newspaper said the friend was speaking on Diana's behalf.Carling and Diana reportedly met several times last summer at a swanky London gym, and Carling was photographed visiting her Ken-sington Palace home.
He said they were just good friends, but his wife Julia objected to the friendship and the couple separated in September after just over a year of marriage. Julia Carling has filed for divorce.
The Daily Mirror reported Tuesday that Carling told his wife shortly before they separated that he had a love affair with Diana. The tabloid said Julia Carling told a friend about the confession and the friend told the paper.
A third tabloid, the Daily Mail, reported Wednesday that Diana has appealed to Carling to deny they were lovers. It said Diana fears the allegations will shatter her hopes of winning the divorce settlement she wants from Prince Charles.
Diana and Charles, heir to the British throne, separated in December 1992 after 11 years of marriage and two sons, Princes Wil-liam, 13, and Harry, 11. Diana agreed last month to a divorce.
She acknowledged in a TV interview last year that she once had an affair with former British army officer James Hewitt. Charles has also admitted committing adultery after his marriage broke down.