Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is “deeply saddened” by the loss of life of an 81-year-old nice grandmother two weeks after a crash involving the royal’s police escort, Buckingham Palace mentioned.
Helen Holland was in London visiting her sister when she was struck by a bike outrider from Sophie’s motorcade, in Earl’s Court docket, London, on Might 10.
Buckingham Palace mentioned Sophie, Prince Edward’s spouse and King Charles III’s sister-in-law, was “deeply saddened” and despatched her deepest condolences.
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The Holland household advised the BBC she fought “for her life for almost two weeks… however irreversible harm to her mind lastly ended the battle.”
Helen Holland’s son, Martin Holland, mentioned his mom’s loss of life got here after “struggling a number of damaged bones and big inner accidents.”
Earlier than her loss of life, the household advised Sky Information she was a “stunning, loving, variety and caring woman who would all the time put anybody earlier than herself.”
They added: “The household are deeply saddened and shocked on the information Helen was concerned in such a tragic accident.
“Helen could also be 81 years outdated however she is sprightly for her age and nothing stopped her dwelling life to the total, spending treasured time together with her household, muddy walks with the canine and lunches with pals is what she loved most.”
The incident triggered an investigation into the police by watchdog the Unbiased Workplace of Police Conduct [IOPC].
Chief Superintendent Richard Smith, head of Royalty and Specialist Safety on the Metropolitan Police, mentioned: “On Tuesday we obtained the unhappy information {that a} lady who was injured in a collision with a police motorbike on 10 Might, in West London, had died in hospital.
“Cops come to work to serve the general public and preserve individuals protected and this tragic consequence is being felt by colleagues throughout the Met.
“Our ideas are very a lot with the lady’s household and family members at this unhappy time.
“Officers know that their actions, each on and off obligation, are open to scrutiny and following our referral of the incident, the IOPC launched an impartial investigation—we proceed to co-operate with and assist that enquiry.”
The collision occurred on the junction of two main West London roads, West Cromwell Highway and Warwick Highway, round three miles from Buckingham Palace.
Newsweek understands the duchess’ automobile was not concerned and the royal didn’t witness the crash.
“We will verify a lady who was concerned in a collision with a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) motorbike in Earl’s Court docket on 10 Might sadly died in hospital yesterday,” an IOPC assertion learn.
The assertion continued: “Helen Holland, 81, was taken to hospital following the collision with a police motorbike that was on escort duties on West Cromwell Highway round 3:21 p.m. that afternoon.
“Our ideas are together with her household and pals following their loss.
“We started an impartial investigation after we had been knowledgeable by the power of the incident that evening. Our investigation is at an early stage.
“We additionally issued a witness attraction final week and would nonetheless like to listen to from anybody who noticed or recorded any a part of this incident who’s but to talk to us.”
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based mostly in London. You’ll find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and skim his tales on Newsweek‘s The Royals Fb web page.
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Replace 5/24/23, 7:33 a.m. ET: This text was up to date with extra data.
