"Deeply saddened": Palace issue statement as woman dies after being hit by royal escort
The Palace have issued a statement from the Duchess of Edinburgh after a woman tragically died following being hit by a royal police escort. The escort, who was accompanying Duchess Sophie on a motorbike, hit 81-year-old Helen Holland at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl's Court, London, on 10 May.
For a fortnight after, Holland remained in a coma. Sharing a statement with the press, her family said "[after fighting] for her life for nearly two weeks... irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today". Holland's son, Martin, added that his mother "suffered from multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries".
In response, Buckingham Palace commented that the Duchess of Edinburgh was "deeply saddened" to hear of Holland's passing and shared her "deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Holland's family". It also remarked that the Duchess would be getting in touch with the Hollands directly.
Speaking about the tragedy, Chief superintendent Richard Smith, head of the Met Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection unit, said that the "outcome is being felt by colleagues across the Met" and that "thoughts are very much with the woman's family and loved ones at this sad time."
Smith also said that an independent enquiry into what happened is underway, "Officers know that their actions, both on and off duty, are open to scrutiny and following our referral of the incident, the IOPC launched an independent investigation - we continue to co-operate with and support that enquiry."
Our thoughts are with all of Holland's family.
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