Would-be robbers escape after pelting Princess Eugenie's highly trained Royal guards with stones, claims tabloid.

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AFP

Princess Eugenie arrives at a Christmas church service in 2006. 

PRINCESS Eugenie, the Queen of England's 19-year-old granddaughter, was "rescued by two bodyguards" in Phnom Penh, the British tabloid The Sun reported on Monday.

One night in the capital - the exact day the event occurred was not reported -  a friend of Princess Eugenie took out her purse and a thief snatched it.

The SO14 Special Branch officers charged with protecting the princess tackled the robber, at which point an accomplice of the bag snatcher started throwing rocks at the Royal bodyguard.

The SO14 officer let the thief go and took Princess Eugenie and her two friends to safety. The Royal guard was able to recover the purse, but the thieves escaped.

It was the first time in 10 years that the SO14 stopped a threat to a member of the British royal family, the tabloid reported. The threat, however, was minor; Princess Eugenie was not attacked, mugged or even the target of the bag snatching - despite claims made by some tabloid headlines.

The British embassy in Cambodia declined to comment on the basis of consulate confidentiality.

Cambodian police were not aware of the incident, saying it was not reported. but said that Princess Eugenie had left the country.