Woman Hit By Royal Motorcycle Escort Dies
Helen Holland was injured in collision at Warwick Road junction
Helen Holland. Picture: Family handout
May 24, 2023
An 81-year-old woman, who was hit by an outrider escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has died in hospital.
Helen Holland, who lived in Essex, was crossing the road near the junction with Warwick Road in Earl’s Court on the afternoon of Wednesday 10 May. She never regained consciousness after the collision.
Her son told the BBC that she had suffered multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries that were too severe to enable her to survive.
A statement issued by the family said that the mother of four, grandmother of ten, and great-grandmother of seven was a "well-respected and popular member of the community".
It added that she was "sprightly for her age and nothing stopped her living life to the full, spending precious time with her family, muddy walks with the dogs and lunches with friends is what she enjoyed most."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses to the collision which took place at around 3.20pm. It has obtained CCTV from nearby properties as part of its investigation.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the day after the collision that Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who is the wife of Prince Edward, was "grateful for the swift response of emergency services and will keep abreast of developments" and that her "heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family".
A4 Cromwell Road at the junction with Warwick Road. Picture: Google Streetview
The junction is an accident black spot and has been the scene of numerous serious collisions. Last July a motorcyclist was killed at this junction and the following month a pedestrian was seriously injured after being hit by a motorcycle.
The police say that the Directorate of Professional Standards has been notified.
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