Getmapping en route to court fight

GETMAPPING, one of the Queen's internet investments, is taking on the Government-owned Ordnance Survey in the High Court this week. Getmapping claims that Ordnance Survey agreed to promote the company's photographic Millennium Map of Britain, but abused its dominant position by setting up a rival service.

Ordnance Survey, Britain's national mapping agency, plans to defend itself strongly in the case, which goes to court on Thursday. A spokesman told Financial Mail: 'We are disappointed that Getmapping has decided to start legal proceedings that are legally and factually misconceived.'

Getmapping was not a moneyspinner for the Queen. She invested £50,000 in the company, which later floated on the Alternative Investment Market. The shares peaked at 224p at the height of the dotcom boom two years ago, valuing her stake at close to £1m. However, with the shares trading at just 10 1/2p, her investment - if she still has it - is now almost worthless.