It’s not every day you’re escorted away from a naval dockyard in a police van…

I was in Portsmouth Dockyard on an assignment for YM for an exciting new feature, to be launched soon. Early morning saw me breeze through the security gates – “You’re on the list so you don’t need a pass, mate.”

Later, the doubts started to mount as I tried to return to my car and found my way blocked by a security guard. Half an hour later I was directed to a police van and escorted away to the stares of gawping tourists – and Princess Anne as she was chauffeured past on a royal visit, no doubt giving rise to all sorts of rumours about journalists and high treason.