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Princess
Royal faces court on DDA charge
THE
PRINCESS Royal is due to appear in court next week over allegations
that one of her bull terriers attacked two children, writes
Nick Mays.
The Princess and her husband, Commodore Timothy Laurence, are
summonsed to appear before East Berkshire magistrates in Slough
on Thursday, November 21, on charges under the 1991 Dangerous
Dogs Act.
It is alleged that their dog attacked two boys aged seven and
12 while they were cycling in Windsor Park in April, two days
after the death of HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
However, it is understood that the boys’ families are royalists
and were reluctant to see the Princess and her husband charged.
One of the princess’s three Bull Terriers, a 13-year-old
bitch called Eglantyne, is thought to be the likeliest to have
committed the alleged attack. The dog has been involved in two
previous biting incidents over the years.
Concerned
The
children who were bitten cannot be named for legal reasons.
However, a family friend said that the Princess was deeply
concerned over the incident and immediately took charge, driving
the boys to hospital in her own car.
“She was entirely human in her concern for the children,”
he said. “The Princess took the children to her car and
then drove them to the hospital. What she did, I don’t
think any ordinary person would have done. She was very nice.”
The friend added that the family had no axe to grind and had
not wanted the Princess charged and taken to court. “I
don’t think the family wanted Princess Anne to be taken
to court, but the police probably want to make it an issue
to prove that nobody is above the law. It is not personal.”
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