The Lady Is Not For Waiting: Speeding Ban For Princess Diana's Former Flunkie

Court Out: Beckwith-Smith

The former Lady-in-Waiting to the late Princess Diana was banned from driving for six months yesterday after being caught speeding for the fourth time.

Anne Honor Mary Beckwith-Smith, 74, fought to keep her licence, insisting she needed it to drive from her £2.2m property in Onslow Square, South Kensington to visit her ailing brother in Wiltshire.

However, Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court found a disqualification would not cause her ‘exceptional hardship’ and also fined her £307, with £130 costs and ordered her to pay a £123 victim surcharge.

She pleaded guilty to driving her blue Audi Q2 in South Street, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire at 36mph in a 30mph zone on August 7, last year.

Beckwith-Smith was Lady-in-Waiting to the late HRH Princess of Wales between 1981 and her tragic death in 1997.

She told the court her brother James Merton Beckwith-Smith, 77, resides in Milford House care home and a ban would impact her ability to regularly visit him.

However, she did not reveal in her evidence the existence of her second property, the Grade II-listed Bishopstone House, Salisbury, which has been in the family for many years.

It is only a fifteen minute taxi ride from the care home, which prosecutor Oliver Hall was quick to pick up on.

“Do you have an address in Salisbury?” asked prosecutor Mr Hall. “Why haven’t you mentioned that?

“You took an oath to tell the truth. Didn’t you think it was relevant to mention that?”

“Nobody asked me,” replied Beckwith-Smith, who stressed the loss of her licence would cause considerable hardship because she lives in London, eighty miles away from her brother.

“You could have a nice summer in the country, couldn’t you?” asked Mr Hall, mentioning the weather was particularly pleasant today.

“Well, what’s tomorrow going to be like?” asked Beckwith-Smith, stressing life away from London would be devastating for her socially.

Happier Times: Beckwith-Smith with Princess Diana

The court heard at the time of the offence Beckwith-Smith had nine penalty points on her driving licence for three speeding offences on October 11 and 18, 2022 and April 15, 2025.

“That’s why I’m here,” she replied when asked if she knew today’s three points would trigger an automatic six-month ban.

“The impact it would have, particularly on my severely disabled brother, who is seventy-seven. He lives in a care home just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire.

“Salisbury is eighty to ninety miles from London and I try and go two or three times a week.

“I am his only next-of-kin. I am unmarried, he is unmarried and I deal with all of his financial affairs, health affairs, his well-being generally.

“He is autistic basically and as age crept on he is more autistic and routine is vital in his life.

“He has been in the care home for three years and they have had three different managers and it is important they know his needs and I communicate with the care staff regularly.

“They are always changing. They have notes, but nobody reads them and now it is all on iPad and I don’t know how easy it is.

“I ensure his routine is kept to the basics,” added Beckwith-Smith, explaining her visits usually last two or three hours or can be simply “dropping in.”

“I like to do that because it keeps them on their toes.

“I do have family nearby, but they have their own care problems, an eighty-nine year-old mother with mobility problems  and slight dementia and two children.

“They will go in occasionally, but I have Power of Attorney.

“It would be a train from London to Salisbury and there are taxis from the station to the care home.

“He has a catheter and if there is a problem, if ever I have to get there it would be inconvenient.

“Public transport in Salisbury, Wiltshire is not as good as it is in London.

“It has happened in the last month. I was rung up to say there was a problem with his catheter.

“They feel they have to ring at any opportunity and I feel I have to get there to reassure him.

“We watch the horse racing on television and that reassures him and from my point of view that is important. He likes that routine.

“I could get a taxi from London I suppose, but I have not looked into that.

“The stress, I think, would be quite considerable. I have never been in this position before, getting to the age I am it would be quite catastrophic, but I know you don’t take that into consideration.

“We are incredibly well-provided with public transport in London. It is getting to friends and family in the country.”

She reminded the court that the two oldest speeding offences have dropped off her licence, adding: “I apologise for wasting all your time on this.

“I should stress it would be a hardship for my brother. I have mobility, I can walk, I can get on buses in London.”

The prosecutor also worked out a bus journey from her Salisbury home to her brother would take approximately forty-four minutes, but Beckwith-Smith insisted this would be unsuitable.

“There is a bus that goes from Milford House. It is a very narrow and dangerous short-cut that people use to avoid Salisbury,” she told the court.

“Then there is a three-hundred to four-hundred yard walk along an unpaved road. I personally would not want to walk along that road at any time of day or night.”

When asked about her financial position she replied: “I’m comfortable,” agreeing she can afford train and taxi fares.

Mr Hall suggested: “You could get a fifteen minute taxi to the care home in the event of an emergency couldn’t you?”

Beckwith-Smith replied that relocating full-time to Salisbury would not work for her. “It would not be terribly convenient. Social life would impact on me personally.”

When asked further about the impact of a disqualification Beckwith-Smith said: “I believe it would be quite considerable.”

Bench Chairwoman Isobel Vass announced: “We are not going to find ‘exceptional hardship’. We do not underestimate the medical and care needs of your brother in the care home.

“We note your dedication and commitment to visit him regularly, but we find you will bet able to live in the area several days a week to meet your obligations.

“I must warn you not to use any motorised vehicles during this period. There is a risk you could be brought back to court and punished.

“The points will come off due to the disqualification. You will be absolutely free.”

In 1990 she was appointed Lieutenant Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O.) and was Princess Diana’s longest-serving Lady-in-Waiting and by 1986 also adopted the role of Assistant Private Secretary.

She went onto work for the Tate Modern.