Kate Middleton’s uncle charged with assaulting wife

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

The Metropolitan Police force said 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.

Just a few hours earlier he and Goldsmith, 47, had posted pictures of themselves smiling at a charity auction at Home House, a private members’ club in central London.

The incident happened after the couple had returned home in a taxi.

Driver Daniel Shepherd told the Times: “They wanted to go to their house. They were arguing, saying quite rude stuff. We got to the house, he paid the fare. She was trying to open the door [of the house] so he went over.”

He added: “She started crying and said, ‘Call the police, call the police.’ I did. The police came. He got arrested. They wanted lots of details. I had to give reports.”

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

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.