Even royals can be remorseful.
Prince Phillip got into some trouble last week while driving near Sandringham Estate. The 97-year-old’s Land Rover Freelander overturned as a result of a collision with a Kia on the 17th of January.
While the Duke of Edinburgh was unharmed (despite not wearing a seatbelt at the time), the passengers of the other vehicle were not as fortunate. The driver, Emma Fairweather, sustained a broken wrist, and her passenger received scrapes to the knee. Thankfully, a 9-month-old baby in the backseat was completely fine.
Fairweather expressed irritation that the Prince had not apologised for the incident, and was spotted with a replacement vehicle (again, sans seatbelt) just days later.
But the Royal family has heeded her disappointment and now responded. In a typed letter, the Prince wrote:
“I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley crossroads. 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 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 incident, 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.”
We dare say that letter is worth a crumpet or two.
