Britain's Princess Anne is to become an honorary member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne

The 64-year-old royal joins female golfers Dame Laura Davies, Renee Powell, Belle Robertson, Lally Segard, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs in accepting invitations to become the first honorary members of the Scottish club, five months after they agreed to admit women for the first time in their 260-year history.

George Macgregor, captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said: "It is an honour and a privilege for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club to welcome these remarkable women as honorary members.

"The Princess Royal enjoys a strong bond with Scotland and has shown great energy and commitment to developing sport through her work in the Olympic movement.

"This is an historic day for the club and we could not be more proud also to welcome women who have distinguished themselves in golf over many years and have been great players and champions.

"They are extremely worthy additions to our roll of honorary members and will become ambassadors for the club as they have been for the sport of golf throughout their careers."

Before a vote in September, women could play on the course but were not allowed in the clubhouse and had no significant part in the R&A, the sport's rulemaking arm.