One of the most mysterious elements of the emerging Silvio Berlusconi affair is his reference to Putin’s bed.

When The Times contacted Vladimir Putin’s office, a spokesman said that the Russian Prime Minister had never given the gift of a bed to Mr Berlusconi.

In the recorded conversation, the voice alleged to be Mr Berlusconi’s asks Patrizia D’Addario to meet him in the big bed, which she describes as the one with the curtains.

One theory is that Mr Putin spent a night in the bed while staying at Mr Berlusconi’s Rome residence.

What transpired in the bed named in his honour remains unclear.

The pair are known to be good friends and Mr Putin was the first world leader to visit when Mr Berlusconi returned to power last year.

At a press conference, Mr Berlusconi described Mr Putin as “very friendly. He has shown himself to be a great friend by coming here.”

Mr Putin did his best to repay the compliment, saying that Italian women were second only to those in Russia. He added: “I have always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others’ lives.”

Source: Times database

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