Lance Corporal "Harry" Dhillon, who denies murdering his ex-girlfriend, was not allowed to do duty with the Royal Family after he suffered a black eye in a fight, a court heard.

The 26-year-old denies cutting Alice Ruggles' throat from ear to ear and leaving her to bleed to death on her bathroom floor.

Giving evidence at Newcastle Crown Court, the signaller with the 2 Scots said he was stationed in Ballater, Scotland, the month before for the purposes of "the Royal Guard".

He told the jury that he suffered a black eye during a night out when he stepped in to help a fellow soldier who got into a fight with seven men outside a takeaway.

Jamie Hill QC, defending, said the Royal party was deer-stalking and shooting grouse.

Dhillon said: "Because I had a black eye, I was given two options, either stay back in camp, or when you go with the beating team, stay back and don't go in front of the Royal guests because you are not in a presentable state."