PRINCE - CAMILLA DUBBED 'THEATRE JINX'

PRINCE CHARLES's lover CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES is being blamed for the injury that forced NATHAN LANE from the London stage production of the THE PRODUCERS.

The British royal and his long-term partner were in the audience last month (DEC04) at the West End's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane when Lane slipped two discs, while playing crooked producer MAX BIALYSTOCK.

The popular actor had to end his brief stint in the show prematurely, to be replaced by understudy CORY ENGLISH - until BRAD OSCAR replaces him on 10 January (05).

Now superstitious theatre gossips claim Parker Bowles is a 'theatre jinx', because she once accompanied the British heir to see West End musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and the revolving stage broke down forcing the show to end early.

Lane, meanwhile, is expected to recover from the injury in time to begin shooting the movie version of THE PRODUCERS next month (FEB05).