Her royal visits usually go like clockwork, but it seems even the Queen is not immune to car trouble now and again.

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen's chauffeur looks on as he has trouble starting the car. Picture: Matthew Usher.The Queen's chauffeur looks on as he has trouble starting the car. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2012)

There were chuckles from the crowd when the monarch's Bentley refused to start after morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate this morning (Sunday).

And it took a little divine intervention to finally get the engine going.

Despite the driver's best attempts, it wasn't until the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, The Bishop of Chelmsford, raised his right hand and blessed the £10m car that it finally started on the fourth or fifth try.

The Queen smiled throughout the incident and there were cheers when she was at last able to climb inside and head back to Sandringham House.

Veteran royal watcher Mary Relph, of Shouldham Thorpe, said she could not remember anything similar happening before.

'She was laughing about it,' she said.

Despite the freezing temperatures, about 300 well-wishers gathered outside the church to greet the Queen and Prince Philip.

Read more in tomorrow's Eastern Daily Press.