Was King William III bisexual? Leading British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell certainly thinks so.

Speaking on BBC Northern Ireland's Talkback programme yesterday, Mr Tatchell argued there was little historical doubt about the claim.

"Research has been building up over the centuries to suggest that King William III was bisexual - probably not gay, but he had bisexual relationships," said Mr Tatchell.

"One relationship was with William Bentinck, later Earl of Portland, and another with Arnold Joost van Keppel.