MECHANIC Chris Lee has completed the most important task of his career making sure Princess Margaret's Rolls Royce is in good condition for its last official journey for her.

As the 25-year-old Silver Wraith II takes Her Royal Highness's family from Kensington Palace to her funeral at Windsor Castle today, they will be relying on 53-year-old Mr Lee's skills to make sure they get there without any last-minute hitches.

The Chalfont St Peter businessman, who has been Princess Margaret's mechanic for ten years, said: "I'm honoured to do this. Whenever I went to the royal parties she went up to me and said 'Thank you for looking after my car'. I'm quite proud. She'll be a very missed customer."

Mr Lee, of Rickmansworth Road, has been a Rolls Royce specialist for more than 30 years, and has become a close friend of Prinncess Margaret's chauffeur Dave Griffin.

As he dropped off the car at Mr Lee's garage in Chiltern Hill, Chalfont St Peter, on Tuesday, Mr Griffin, told the Free Press: "The car comes here to make sure it's in tip-top condition. It's being used for the funeral on Friday to drive her family there, and Mr Lee will make sure it does a good job.

"It has to be in good shape we can't have any mistakes. Chris Lee has been repairing Rolls Royces all his life and he's the best man."

Mr Griffin, 53, has been a Royal chauffeur for 25 years and lives at a house in Kensington Palace.

"I've driven all of them," he said. "I've driven Diana a couple of times. I've been a chauffeur all my life."

He said he drove Princess Margaret every day and got to know her well.

"You just spoke to her like a normal person. She was quite normal. She came across very well. She was very polite and precise.

"When we were in our heyday we were very busy. She used to get a lot of stick, I used to think, because we were out all hours under the sun when we were busy, doing ballets and theatres and charity jobs."

Mr Lee, whose celebrity customers have included Terry Wogan, Johnny Morris and Jim Davidson, said: "Rolls Royces are the best cars to work on. They are typically English cars. They are well-made, and the customers that go with them they are really nice people that own Rolls Royces.

"We get invites to the Christmas parties and the garden parties. We are well known."

He added: "Going to Kensington is excellent. We are known now and get a bit of the Royal treatment.

"Anything that needs doing on that car they'll have done. They are very good."

Princess Margaret's body is to be cremated. Her ashes are likely to be placed in King George VI's vault in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, or possibly on her Caribbean holiday island of Mustique. She died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday after suffering a third stroke and developing heart problems.

February 15, 2002 10:30