Tony McCoy joked he was nervous about receiving his knighthood in case friend and fellow racing enthusiast the Princess Royal threatened to “let the sword slip”.

Queen Elizabeth was born in a townhouse in London’s Mayfair, the first child of the Duke of York, later King George VI.

The Queen has celebrated her 90th birthday by greeting well-wishers outside Windsor Castle.

Princess Charlotte was christened in front of the Queen and close family and friends at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Norfolk.

Zara Phillips has given birth to a girl, the Queen’s fourth great grandchild, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The royal baby, which will be born third in line to the throne, is destined to rule as monarch.

The Irish National Stud has had its second royal visit in 10 months, with the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, arriving recently.

THE Duke of Edinburgh missed the Royal Family’s annual St Stephen’s Day shoot yesterday as he remained in hospital following a heart scare.

YOUR Majesty, Before I get on to saying that you’re welcome, I should probably admit that I did a bit of research into the proper mode of address for an open letter to the British queen.

Zara Phillips has announced her engagement to rugby player Mike Tindall.

Scotland prop Moray Low has signed a two-year contract extension with Glasgow Warriors, handing the Magners League leaders a major boost ahead of tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash with Newport Gwent Dragons.

Scores of people fled their homes in southern Australia today amid fears new wildfires were about to devastate the area again.

A LIBERAL Democrat MP introduced legislation yesterday to end the bar on heirs to the British throne marrying Catholics.

The first British royal to visit Ireland’s historic Croke Park stadium next weekend will be welcome despite hardline republican protests, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern Minister insisted today.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will make their first official appearance together in the United States today.

Dozens of Ireland’s World War II veterans turned out to greet Princess Anne tonight on her last official engagement in the country.

The mother of a Dublin-born soldier who died while serving in Iraq with the British army's Irish Guards used a St Patrick’s Day visit to the regiment in South Armagh by Princess Anne to condemn the war.

The prospect of an historic visit to Ireland by the queen of England edged closer today after Princess Anne jetted into Dublin to meet President Mary McAleese.

The Princess Royal’s English bull terrier has been cleared of mauling one of the Queen’s corgis, it was reported today.

President George Bush was tonight being wined and dined by the Queen at a Buckingham Palace state banquet.

Israeli police interrogated Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for seven hours today about suspicions of bribery suspicions in a property deal.

News of an intruder being arrested inside Windsor Castle at Prince William’s 21st birthday party is the latest in a long line of Royal security breaches.

THE Princess Royal yesterday became the first member of the royal family to have a criminal record when she admitted a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after one of her pets bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

Britain's Princess Anne is being prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bull terrier attacked a couple in Windsor Great Park, it was confirmed today.

The Queen Mother’s four grandsons tonight mounted a candlelit vigil over her coffin in Westminster Hall.