Princess Beatrice's BMW is stolen

Beatrice is fifth in line to the throne

Police say they are investigating the theft of Princess Beatrice's car in central London.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers were investigating the theft of a vehicle from the W1 area of the city on Wednesday afternoon.

It is understood that the car was a £17,000 BMW, reportedly a gift to Beatrice from her father Prince Andrew.

Police could not confirm reports that the car was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

A spokeswoman for the princess's mother, the Duchess of York, referred inquiries about the theft to Buckingham Palace.

The palace said it was a police matter and declined to comment.

The princess, who has a police protection officer, is a history student at Goldsmiths, University of London, in south-east London.

Before beginning university in September, she spent part of her gap year working as a personal shopper at Selfridges department store on Oxford Street in London.