Philip ‘very contrite’
PRINCE Philip has apologised to the woman left injured after his car crash, sending her a signed letter saying he is “deeply sorry”.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s note was hand-delivered to Emma Fairweather three days after the Sunday Express reported last week how upset she was at not hearing from the Royal since the accident near his Sandringham estate in Norfolk on January 17.
Last night, the mother of two said: “When I opened it, I saw the Sandringham House headed paper and went, ‘Oh my God!’
“It took me by complete surprise.”
The 97-year-old husband of the Queen said he was left “shaken” after the collision that saw Ms Fairweather suffer a broken wrist.
He said: “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. In other words, the sun was shining low 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.”
The Prince goes on to explain he was ushered away from the scene on advice from police but insisted he had established nobody was badly hurt before he returned to Sandringham House.
However, in the typed 131-word letter, which bears an official stamp and is hand-signed from “Philip”, he mistakenly said she had broken her arm, instead of her wrist.
The letter reads: “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.”
Ms Fairweather, 46, said: “I had no idea it was from Prince Philip but I’d hoped and expected to hear from him. Then I thought he probably wasn’t going to get in touch.
“The envelope just had my name printed on it and an ink stamp on the back that I didn’t recognise.
“I thought it was really nice that he signed off as ‘Philip’ and not the formal title. I was pleasantly surprised because of the personalised nature of the letter. Especially the handwritten signature.
“He asked how I was and said sorry that I was in pain. I was chuffed.”
The care support worker, who has been signed off sick for two months, added: “After the crash I had some horrendous bruising on my upper arm. It’s still slow-going and painful. I am relying on my son a lot for help.” The letter is believed to have been hand-delivered by a member of the Royal staff.
Despite being a fan of the Royals, Ms Fairweather will not be displaying her letter at home, saying: “It’s not going in a frame, it will just go in a file with all the rest of the paperwork on this.”
Buckingham Palace last night confirmed the letter from Philip was genuine but declined to comment further.
Ms Fairweather has instructed a firm of solicitors to begin a personal injury compensation claim, but it has not been decided if the action will be directed at Philip or the Royal household.
‘I had no idea it was from Philip but I’d hoped to hear from him’