Prince Harry's playboy image was last night under fresh scrutiny after an early morning fracas outside a nightclub which left a paparazzi photographer with a cut lip.

The 20-year-old royal, who has tried to shed his wild reputation after dabbling with cannabis, clashed with the 24-year-old man as he left the exclusive Pangaea club in London's West End.

Clarence House said Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, had pushed back after he was hit in the face by a camera - but the photographer, Chris Uncle, claimed the prince "deliberately lashed out".

A witness also claimed the prince was swearing during the altercation and had buried his head in his knees as his car sped away from the African-themed venue, a popular haunt for celebrities and Page Three girls.

A Clarence House spokes-man said Harry had been defending himself when the incident happened in Piccadilly at about 3am.

He said: "Prince Harry was hit in the face by a camera as photographers crowded around him as he was getting into a car.

"In pushing the camera away, it's understood that a photographer's lip was cut."

Mr Uncle, who works for the Big Pictures agency, reported the incident to police but has yet to make a formal complaint. He claimed that the prince jumped out of a car to attack him.

Mr Uncle said: "He suddenly burst out of the car and lunged towards me as I was still taking pictures.

"He lashed out and then deliberately pushed my camera into my face. The base of the camera struck me and cut my bottom lip.

"At the same time he was repeatedly saying, 'Why are you doing this? Why don't you just leave me alone?'."

Big Pictures later issued a statement. It said: "Chris was alerted to the fact that the prince had left the building by seeing other photographers' flashes firing.

"Chris then made his way across to the prince's waiting car. By the time Chris arrived, the prince had actually got into the car.

"Without any provocation, Prince Harry decided to get back out of the car, and lunged towards Chris Uncle.

"There was then an altercation between the two, which was ended by the intervention of the prince's security team.

"In no way did Chris Uncle provoke the prince."

Last night, Scotland Yard confirmed the incident had been reported.

The prince's visit to the upmarket Pangaea club follows a string of well documented trips to other fashionable London nightspots.

He has been spotted with a group of female pals in trendy Boujis, in South Kensington, and was reported to have been seen cavorting with topless model Lauren Pope, 20, at Mayfair's China White.