Former Princess Diana Lady‑in‑Waiting Receives Six‑Month Driving Ban

London’s Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on April 8 upheld a six‑month driving disqualification for Anne Beckwith‑Smith, 74, the longest‑serving lady‑in‑waiting to Princess Diana. The ban follows a fourth speeding conviction, bringing her total penalty points to 12 after being caught driving 6 mph over the limit in an Audi Q2.

Beckwith‑Smith argued that losing her licence would be “catastrophic,” citing the need to travel from her South Kensington home to a care facility in Salisbury where her 77‑year‑old brother resides. Magistrates dismissed the claim, stating that alternative transport was readily available and that the ban would not cause “exceptional hardship.”

In addition to the disqualification, the court imposed a £307 fine, £130 in costs and a £123 victim surcharge. The ruling underscores the UK’s strict point‑system for repeat offenders, regardless of personal circumstances.