Former Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi invoked the names of British royalty, including Prince Charles and his brother Andrew, while seeking his travel papers from the UK Home Office, according to a media report today.

According to the report in 'The Sunday Times', Prince Andrew - the Duke of York and second son of Queen Elizabeth II - has known Mr Modi for several years and met him at his London home last July, just days before his travel papers were granted.

Buckingham Palace refused to say what the two men had discussed but denied "categorically" that the duke had lobbied the UK government on Mr Modi's behalf.