Just because you own one of the world's most exclusive shops, it doesn't necessarily mean you can park right outside - something the new Harrods' owners found out to their cost.
Two of the world's most exclusive supercars - a Koenigsegg CCXR and a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce - said to belong to the Qatari royal family were clamped outside the exclusive London shop.
At an estimated £1.2 million for the ultra-rare Swedish Koenigsegg, and a mere £350,000 for the Lamborghini, the vehicles' combined cost is barely one thousandth of the eye-watering £1.5 billion the family reputedly paid Mohammed Al Fayed for the proverbially upmarket Knightsbridge store in May.
The Telegraph reports that tourists looked on in amazement as a traffic warden proceeded from writing out tickets for the distinctive blue-liveried cars, to clamping them.
According to the BBC, the family faced stiff £120 penalty charge notices from Kensington and Chelsea Council - but was able to find some spare cash within 14 days, meaning the hypercars were released for a mere £70 apiece.
A spokesman for the authority said: "There is a greater shortage of parking space for residents in Kensington and Chelsea than practically anywhere else in the country.
"Our priority is our residents. To keep space available for them, we must deter visitors from taking up residents' bays and our experience is that clamping is simply the most effective deterrent."
The actions of the council seem to subvert the normal order of things - where Harrods itself is the arbiter dishing out snubs to would-be visitors to its august halls.
In February, the store turned away track-suited players of the wealthy Shakhtar Donetsk football team - due to play Al Fayed's own Fulham side two days later - "in the interest of health and safety".
Meanwhile, the following month saw woggle-wearing scouts refused entry - an incident which the store apologised for.
