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UK’s Prince Philip ‘shocked and shaken’ after car crash
LONDON, Jan 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Queen Elizabeth II’s 97-year-old husband
Prince Philip was “very shocked and shaken” after being involved in a car
accident that left his Land Rover flipped on its side, a witness reportedly
said.
The duke emerged unharmed but two people in another car were injured in the
crash that occurred Thursday when the duke was driving near the Sandringham
Estate, according to police and Buckingham Palace.
Norfolk Police said two women — the driver and passenger of a Kia —
required hospital treatment but were later discharged. It would not confirm
reports that a baby was also in the car.
The BBC reported that Prince Philip’s vehicle turned on its side after
pulling out of a Sandringham driveway onto a main road and colliding with the
Kia.
Witness Roy Warne, 75, told The Sun newspaper that the Prince was pulled
from the wreckage “conscious” but “very shocked and shaken”.
“I saw the car flip,” he said, adding that he rushed to help free the
driver before he “suddenly realised it was Prince Philip”.
An image from the accident scene published by a local radio station showed
two cars by the side of the road, one on its side with a smashed windscreen
and another a few yards away in bushes.
“The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road traffic accident with another
vehicle this afternoon,” the palace said in a statement.
“The Duke was not injured. The accident took place close to the Sandringham
Estate. Local police attended the scene.”
She added that the duke saw a doctor “as a precaution” who confirmed he was
not hurt.
— Duke in breath test —
Norfolk Police said, in accordance with policy in collisions, it
breathalysed both drivers.
“We can confirm both drivers were breath tested and provided negative
readings,” the force added.
It said officers were called to the estate shortly before 3:00 pm (1500
GMT) “after a Land Rover and Kia were involved in a collision”.
“The male driver of the Land Rover was uninjured,” it added.
“The female driver of the Kia suffered cuts while the female passenger
sustained an arm injury, both requiring hospital treatment”.
The Press Association reported that there was a passenger in the duke’s
vehicle who was likely his close protection officer
The royal couple spend most of the winter at the residence in Norfolk, an
English county northeast of London, which continues to operate as a sporting
estate.
Philip, known for his forthright manner and off-colour jokes, formally
retired from public life in 2017.
He has been seen behind the wheel on numerous occasions over the decade,
including with world leaders and dignitaries as his passengers.
In 2016, alongside the Queen he drove former US President Barack Obama and
his wife Michelle around Windsor Castle in a Range Rover after they landed
nearby in the presidential helicopter.
Meanwhile the duke continued to compete in demanding carriage driving
competitions into his 80s, and has previously pulled muscles in his back
while driving his horse-drawn carriage.
Philip described in an interview how he took up carriage driving when he
gave up polo aged 50, helping to establish it as a sport in subsequent years.
Born a prince of Greece and Denmark, he married then princess Elizabeth on
November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey in London.
On their golden wedding anniversary in 1997, she said of him: “He has,
quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/1120 hrs