Queen's belligerent Bentley moved by bishop's blessing

The Queen's driver tried repeatedly to get the car to move at Mary Magdalene Church

The Queen's Bentley failed to start following a Sandringham church service - until a bishop blessed the motor.

As her chauffeur got nothing more than "throaty rasping" noises from the engine, the Queen laughed and pointed at the stricken limo.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, stepped forward and gave a blessing.

At that point the car burst into life and the Queen commented: "Don't let it stop."

'Bit of fun'

Bishop Cottrell said he was standing with the Queen waiting for the Bentley to pick her up.

He said: "He [the chauffeur] got into the car, put the key into the ignition and it made that kind of throaty rasping noise that cars make when they are not going to start.

"So he tried again and again it makes the noise... three or four times.

"At this point, really for a bit of fun, I just took a little step forward and made a blessing over the car, which got a laugh from the crowd.

"The chauffeur tried the key again and it started. So then there was a great round of applause.

"It is one of those nice little incidents," he said. "We all saw the funny side of it."