Prince Philip has apologised to the two women who were involved in a car crash with him in mid-January.
The 97-year-old was pulling out of a driveway onto a freeway in Norfolk, close to The Queen’s Sandringham Estate, on Thursday January 17 when his Land Rover collided with a Kia, which was being driven by a 28-year-old woman.
The woman’s nine-month-old baby was in the back seat and uninjured in the crash, but she received cuts to one knee and her 46-year-old passenger, Emma Fairweather, broke her wrist. Prince Philip, 97, was left shaken but uninjured, when his vehicle flipped onto its side.
Fairweather has been particularly vocal since the accident, telling media she felt “lucky to be alive” and that she expected an apology from the Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke had asked after the three occupants of the Kia, and the Queen’s lady in waiting had phoned to pass on the Queen’s best wishes, but Fairweather was incensed that she had not heard directly from the Duke.
However Prince Philip has since sent a handwritten apology note to Ms Fairweather, as reported by the UK’s Sunday Mirror, which also published a copy of the letter on the weekend.
The letter was dated January 21 and addressed to Ellie Townsend, the driver of the Kia, as well as Fairweather.
The note is thought to have been hand-delivered. Fairweather received her note on January 23.
Story continues after letter, below.
Prince Philip’s letter in full
“I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads.
I have been across that crossing any number of times and I know very well the amount of traffic that uses that main road.
It was a bright sunny day and at about three in the afternoon, the sun was low over the Wash.
In other words, the sun was shining low over the main road. In normal conditions I would have no difficulty in seeing traffic coming from the Dersingham direction, but I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming, and I am very contrite about the consequences.
I was somewhat shaken after the accident, but I was greatly relieved that none of you were seriously injured.
As a crowd was beginning to gather, I was advised to return to Sandringham House by a local Police Officer. I have since learned that you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury.
I wish you a speedy recovery from a very distressing experience.”
Fairweather said she was “chuffed” to receive the personal apology.
Taking to national British television show, This Morning, Fairweather, who was sporting a cast on her left wrist, said she wanted the 97-year-old royal to face prosecution if he is found to be at fault.
“I feel that his treatment has not been the same as mine,” she told the presenters.
Her call for action comes after the Duke of Edinburgh was seen driving without a seat belt just days after the crash.
“There needs to be a decision as to whether Prince Philip and I are from the same walk of life here or not,” she said.
Fairweather reinforced that she was still waiting to give a statement to the police, telling the presenters: “I need somebody to understand that I still have medical concerns. I’m very worried that I haven’t been asked for a statement from the police.”
She also confirmed she had received a message from one of the Queen’s aides.
“She [the Queen’s aide] left me a voicemail… to say that the Queen wished me well, and that she would like to call me back but she was going out for the evening.”
Earlier this week, Fairweather was also interviewed by The Sunday Mirror, whom she told she was disappointed by the royal family’s way of dealing with the ordeal.
“I know the Queen is a busy lady but I was really excited at the idea she might phone me,” she told the publication.
“Instead, I got a call from a police family liaison officer. The message he passed on didn’t even make sense. He said, ‘The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would like to be remembered to you.’ That’s not an apology or even a well-wish.”
The Daily Express reported that the Duke of Edinburgh’s senior advisers are concerned about his driving.
A source told the publication that his advisers have “long been concerned about his driving but have been waved away by the irascible Duke of Edinburgh.”
According to the Daily Mail, Prince Philip told onlookers at the scene of the crash that he was dazzled by the low sun.
