Buckingham Palace has issued a statement after an elderly woman was hit by a motorbike escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London. The woman, who is in her 80s, is in a critical condition following the incident, the Metropolitan Police said.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, said her “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” are with the woman. The palace said Sophie, 58, who attended the King's coronation alongside her husband Edward and their children on Saturday, is “grateful for the swift response by the emergency services”, adding that she will “keep abreast of developments”.
The Metropolitan Police said the motorcycle collided with a pedestrian at around 3.21pm on Wednesday at the junction of Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in west London. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the scene and the woman was taken to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.
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In a short statement on Thursday morning, the palace said: “The Duchess’s heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family. She is grateful for the swift response by the emergency services and will keep abreast of developments. Further comment at this time would not be appropriate while the incident is being investigated.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “A woman, aged in her 80s, has been injured after being involved in a collision with a police motorcycle in west London. At approximately 15:21hrs on Wednesday, a police motorcycle on escort duties was involved in a collision with a member of the public on the junction of Cromwell Road and Warwick Road, SW5. She remains in hospital in a critical condition. Her family have been informed."
They added: "There are no reports of any other injuries. Enquiries into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing. Road closures remain in place while the scene is dealt with. As is routine, the Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.”
The Met Police’s Special Escort Group provide armed escorts for Royal Family members, VIPs, protected members of the Government, visiting royals, heads of state and other visiting dignitaries.
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