Former royal press secretary Ailsa Anderson has disclosed that palace officials carried out security checks on court cells before Princess Anne's 2002 court appearance, in case she was sentenced to prison.
Preparations at Slough Magistrates' Court
Anderson, who served as press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, spoke to The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast about the precautions taken. Princess Anne had pleaded guilty to an offence after her English bull terrier, Dotty, attacked two children in Windsor Great Park.
Anderson said: "I was there in Slough Magistrates' Court. She lost control of her dogs. She pleaded guilty."
Checking the Cells
She revealed that officials had to "recce the courts beforehand and look at the jails downstairs just in case they pushed her down." When asked if they checked the cells, she confirmed: "Yes, just in case she was sent down."
The preparations were for security reasons, with Anderson explaining that officials needed to know what was inside the cells and who might be there. Asked whether there were criminals downstairs, she said: "There were a few."
When asked if the cells were suitable for a royal, she replied: "They were basic, Matt. They were basic. Not quite what she was used to, right? But she didn't have to go to any of these cells."
Outcome and Aftermath
Princess Anne avoided prison and received a £500 fine, was ordered to pay £500 in compensation, and £148 in court costs. Dotty had to be kept on a lead in public and undergo training.
The case was historic as it marked the first time a senior member of the Royal Family had been convicted of a criminal offence. No other senior royal had attended court for around a century. The case against Anne's husband, Commodore Tim Laurence, was dropped shortly after the hearing began.
The Princess Royal's punishment was criticised by members of the victims' families, with some arguing that Dotty should have been put down.
