World equestrian champion Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Britain's Queen, was named the BBC's sports personality of the year on, beating widely-tipped golfer Darren Clarke.
Phillips, whose mother Princess Anne won the award in 1971, won the individual gold on her horse Toytown at the World Equestrian Games in Germany and helped Britain win a team silver.
Clarke, whose emotional performance following his wife's death
helped Europe beat the United States to win golf's Ryder Cup in
September, came second, while gymnast Beth Tweddle came third.
"To win this is absolutely amazing," Phillips said.
The paucity of British success in major sports was
highlighted by the absence of football, rugby and athletics from
the 10-person short list.
Among those put to the public vote were Jenson Button, who
won a Formula One race for the first time at his 113th attempt,
Monty Panesar, a spin bowler who has yet to play for England's
current Ashes team, and darts world champion Phil Taylor.
Teenage Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, an unused member of
England's World Cup squad and who has started just two league games
this season, was named young sports personality of the year.
Europe's victorious golfers, who thumped the US 18.5 to 9.5,
missed out on team of the year which went instead to treble-winning
rugby league side St Helens.
The northern English side's Australian coach Daniel Anderson
also picked up coach of the year.
World number one tennis player Roger Federer won the overseas
personality award, while 11-times grand slam champion Bjorn Borg
was given a lifetime achievement award.