The proud owner of a 1968 Morris Minor saloon is on for a right royal pay day - after an MOT discovered the motor had a regal pedigree.

Lesley Wheeler, of Chelmsford, bought the car for a little over £1,000 a year ago but after spotting the name of a certain Sophie Rhys Jones on its documents it may net her as much as £20,000.

The car, which has 103,000 miles on the clock, was owned by Sophie Rhys Jones in 1988 before she became the Countess of Wessex after marrying Prince Edward earlier this month.

After discovering its heritage Mrs Wheeler approached top car auctioneer Brooks UK, based in London, which will auction the car at the National Car Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, at the end of July.

James Knight, one of the directors of Brooks UK, said: "How much it sells for all depends on the kind of interest Sophie Rhys Jones' involvement has in it." "I think it is good that Mrs Wheeler has decided to sell it this way because it means it may go for £5,000 or it may go for £10,000.

He said there may be interest from publications wanting to use the car as a competition prize or incentive for readers. The car will go under the hammer on July 29.

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