India's Bombay high court has dismissed a claim against Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands by the owner of a ship that sank in 1989.

The suit had claimed that as the vessel had been repaired by a Dutch company prior to its capsize, the ex-monarch was liable for damages as the repairer was her "subject," the Deccan Chronicle reported.

However, the court rejected the action on the grounds that the former monarch could not be held responsible.