The grieving family of an elderly woman who was killed by a police motorbike escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh through London have said the collision was not the royal's fault.
Eyewitnesses speaking earlier this month said Helen Holland was “thrown 40 feet across the road” when she was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl's Court by a Metropolitan Police Service motorcycle.
The 81-year-old, who sustained broken bones and critical internal injuries in the accident, spent two weeks in hospital before her family agreed to switch off her life-support machine on Tuesday.
Helen's son Martin told the BBC that she fought "for her life for nearly two weeks... but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle".
A statement from Buckingham Palace on behalf of Sophie Wessex said the 58-year-old royal was "deeply saddened" by the news of Helen's death, adding that she sent her "deepest condolences and sympathies" to the family.
Martin has since spoken of his fury at the police for the circumstances which led to his mother's death, saying in a statement this week that the family were "very angry that someone so pure and kind was caught up in such a violent and unescapable situation."
He has also has called for sweeping reforms to the way police motorcades are run, and in a visit to the scene of the accident today he blamed motorbike outriders who "endanger the public" when they drive ahead to clear traffic, the MailOnline reports.
But he has also been at pains to point out the family do not blame the Duchess of Edinburgh for what happened to Helen, saying: "It’s not Sophie’s fault. We don’t blame her – the police did it."
He also clarified that his stance against the police was not "anti-royal", adding that his mother "loved" the Royal Family.
It is understood Sophie will be in touch privately with Ms Holland's family.
The incident on May 10 is currently being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who have taken CCTV from nearby properties for examination.
A spokesman for the watchdog said on Wednesday: "We can confirm a woman who was involved in a collision with a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) motorcycle in Earl's Court on May 10 sadly died in hospital yesterday.
"Helen Holland, 81, was taken to hospital following the collision with a police motorcycle that was on escort duties on West Cromwell Road around 3.21 pm that afternoon.
"Our thoughts are with her family and friends following their loss. We began an independent investigation after we were informed by the force of the incident that night."
