Published January 13, 2015
An angry aristocrat on Sunday accused Prince William (search) of driving too fast on his estate, while a royal official separately denied reports the young prince has a long-distance romance.
The driving incident occurred Saturday on Lord Bathurst's estate in western England where the Cirencester Polo Club plays. William was driving on unpaved roads when he came up behind Bathurst's vehicle and overtook it, as did the police car with him, a club spokesman said.
Bathurst then hit his horn and set out after the Volkswagen, pursuing it for about 400 yards.
"The rule is 20 mph on the road but he was doing 30-40 when he overtook me," Bathurst said. "There are rules ... about driving in the estate and people have to stick to them."
William's guard then pulled over Bathurst's Land Rover and reportedly spoke sharply to him as the prince drove away Saturday.
A spokesman for St. James's Palace said on condition of anonymity that "this was a very minor incident in which no one was injured and as far as we are concerned the matter is closed."
Bathurst said Prince Charles (search), William's father, had apologized to his son, Lord Apsley. There was no indication that any further action would be taken.
Separately, royal officials denied newspaper reports that Prince William has maintained a long-distance romance with a young woman in Kenya (search) and insisted the pair were just friends.
The Mail on Sunday, News of The World and Sunday Express all reported that 21-year-old Jessica Craig was to be a guest at the prince's 21st birthday party -- with its "Out of Africa" theme -- next week.
"St. James' Palace denies that there is or ever has been any romantic liaison between Prince William and Jessica Craig," said a spokeswoman for the office of Prince Charles.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/prince-william-accused-of-speeding-palace-denies-rumors-of-royal-romance