A DUKE is to go on trial accused of using a mobile phone while driving a BMW.

The Duke of Norfolk, who lives at Arundel Castle and whose real name Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, faces motoring charges.

The incident is alleged to have happened on April 7 in Battersea Park Road in south-west London.

The 65-year-old was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the RVO for services to the monarchy in the honours announced at the beginning of June to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Under his hereditary title Earl Marshal, the Duke is responsible for organising major state events, such as coronations and state funerals.

He appeared on a magistrates’ court list in May as Edward William, the Duke of Norfolk, with an address at Arundel Castle in West Sussex.

The charge, first reported by the Evening Standard, stated that shortly before 4.15pm he drove a BMW “when he was at the time using a hand-held device, other than a two-way radio, which was capable of transmitting and receiving data, whether or not those capabilities were enabled, namely a mobile device”.

The offence falls under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

A Bromley Magistrates’ Court official confirmed a summons had been issued for a trial to take place on August 4 at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, listed to last for 90 minutes.