Princess Anne fined for driving Bentley at 93mph

Princess Anne has been fined £400 and given five penalty points for driving at more than 90mph.

She was convicted of driving her Bentley at 93mph on the A417 at Brockworth near her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire.

The Princess pleaded guilty in writing to Cheltenham Magistrates but said she thought police had been escorting her past a line of traffic.

Cheltenham Magistrates Court heard that the Princess was caught by a police car on the dual carriageway on August 27 last year.

Court clerk Kim Edge told magistrates that the Princess was not appearing in person but had sent a letter written on her behalf by her solicitors.

In the letter the Princess said she had been on her way to an official engagement at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire when she was caught in a line of slow-moving traffic.

Mrs Edge said: "She saw the police car and believed it was waiting to escort her on her journey. She pulled out and accelerated from behind the traffic in front of her to a clear part of the road so the officers could see her."

Mrs Edge said when the police car pulled out behind her and flashed its blue light, she thought it was a sign acknowledging that they were following her and carried on speeding.

She was clocked at 93mph on the 70mph road.

The Princess was fined £400, ordered to pay £30 costs and given five penalty points.