A member of the royal family said to have been the target of an alleged sex and drugs blackmail plot has told Scotland Yard of the “excruciating pain” of being involved in the affair.

Even though the royal has not been identified for legal reasons, he told detectives his standing in public life had been “hugely damaged”.

A court gagging order prevents the identity of the royal and any potential witness in the case from being made public in Britain. However, he has been widely named on internet websites and American television.

Two men face trial next month after claims of a sex act being performed on a royal aide. They are alleged to have tried to blackmail the royal by threatening to release a mobile phone video of the aide taking cocaine and boasting of the sex act as well as a gay fling with a Tory MP. The royal has denied all the claims.

During a 45-minute interview in London with detectives, he said the royal family had given him “immense support” since the alleged plot was uncovered last summer.

The royal was asked how the affair had affected his family.

“I can’t really adequately describe the effect it’s had mentally on myself and my family,” he said. “Excruciating pain and unbelievable amounts of anguish . . . It’s been unbelievably stressful on people who I work with, on my friends, my family.”

Ian Strachan, 30, and Sean McGuigan, 40, are due to appear in court next month accused of trying to demand £50,000 “with menaces”. They deny the charges.

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