Prince's police guards are clamped

Armed police officers guarding Prince Charles as he visited an art gallery found their car had been clamped.

The surprised policemen, who had parked in Old Bond Street, tried to get the Jaguar released but were told: "We don't care who you are."

Scotland Yard had to send a fax to Westminster council chiefs before the clamping van came to free their car.

"It could have been a very embarrassing incident," a royal insider said. "The police were there to protect the prince and would have been in serious trouble if they had to leave in a hurry."

The bodyguards had followed Charles's Audi as he and Camilla Parker Bowles made a private visit. The officers could not find space for their Jaguar, the Prince's back-up car, so parked on double yellow lines.

One left his police log book on the dashboard to make it clear to traffic wardens he was on duty. It was ignored.

Another royal source said: "They couldn't believe the council refused to free the car immediately. It was explained that they were armed and protecting Charles, but they did not seem that bothered."

Westminster council said police were appealing against the ?100 fine.