Princess Beatrice in car crash horror as BMW smashed between bus and coach near Buckingham Palace

Crash horror: Princess Beatrice was left 'tearful and traumatised' after the smash which happened as she drove her BMW near Buckingham Palace

Crash horror: Princess Beatrice was left 'tearful and traumatised' after the smash which happened as she drove her BMW near Buckingham Palace

Princess Beatrice was involved in a car crash when her BMW was crushed between a double-decker bus and a coach on one of London’s most notorious roundabouts.

The 22-year-old was driving in heavy traffic on Monday afternoon when she was caught in a smash on London’s Hyde Park Corner, yards from the grounds of Buckingham Palace – home to her grandmother the Queen.

Beatrice burst into tears after becoming sandwiched between the two high-sided vehicles as she drove around the six-lane roundabout with her bodyguard in the passenger seat.

Both climbed out of the car unhurt but shaken, minutes after apparently leaving St James's Palace to drive into Central London between 1.30 and 2pm.

The fifth in line to the throne was forced to stand at the side of the busy road as she called her parents on her mobile, while the Scotland Yard protection officer swapped insurance details with the other drivers in the accident.

A source described the Princess as ‘traumatised and tearful’.

A back-up car was called to collect her. Later that evening she got over her shock by letting her hair down during a glitzy Tatler party at the auction house Phillips de Pury  with her boyfriend of four years Dave Clark.

The damaged black BMW 1 Series with personalised plates has been returned to the garage and may be a write-off.

A source said: ‘Beatrice was sandwiched and her cherished car was pretty badly damaged on both sides. It was all very hairy – she was in tears and traumatised. She had a lucky escape.’

The car was a replacement for a similar model given as a 17th birthday gift by her father Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

The original was stolen in broad daylight when it was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition while the princess and her minder went shopping in Kensington in January last year.

Behind the wheel: Princess Beatrice driving her BMW last year

Behind the wheel: Princess Beatrice driving her BMW last year

When they came out of the store on Devonshire Place, it had vanished, leaving Beatrice ‘upset and embarrassed’.

The car was found abandoned and vandalised in South London, but the princess later got a replacement.

Beatrice is two weeks into her third and final year studying for a BA in History and History of Ideas at Goldsmiths College, part of the University of London.

Despite reports that police protection for the princess and her 20-year-old sister Eugenie - a student at Newcastle University - is to be scaled back, they are still being minded at an estimated cost of £250,000 a year.

Notorious roundabout: The princess's car was crushed between a double-decker bus and a coach on London's Hyde Park Corner

Notorious roundabout: The princess's car was crushed between a double-decker bus and a coach on London's Hyde Park Corner

The sisters would rather not be lumbered with security, it is thought, but Prince Andrew is understood to have resisted attempts to strip them of their protection.

A Scotland Yard source said: ‘Incidents like this illustrate how important it is that they are protected. It could have been a very difficult situation if she had been alone and someone had taken advantage of the chaos.’

A royal aide said: 'Princess Beatrice was going into Central London. It was in the afternoon so not rush hour, but Hyde Park Corner is always busy.'

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

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