I’ll feel safer now he’s off roads
PRINCE GIVES UP LICENCE AT 97
Philip crash victim’s relief as file passed to prosecutors
THE woman injured when Prince Philip’s Land Rover slammed into her car is delighted that he has handed in his licence. Emma Fairweather says she feels a lot safer now the 97- year- old royal will no longer be at the wheel.
PRINCE Philip has finally given up his driving licence aged 97 – three weeks after his horror smash.
He is voluntarily surrendering his licence “after careful consideration”, Buckingham Palace said last night.
The Queen is believed to have had “reflective discussions” with her husband and is a key factor in the decision.
A senior Palace source said: “Philip is a very proud and principled man but it’s fair to say the Queen was hugely instrumental in his decision to give up his driving licence. It’s often said the monarch is the only person Philip ever listens to and on this occasion that’s very true.”
The Duke claimed he was dazzled by low sun when he pulled out on to a busy road at Sandringham and hit a car on January 17. He had to be pulled from his Land Rover Freelander after it flipped – Kia driver Ellie Townsend, 28, and her ninemonth-old son were unhurt.
But passenger Emma Fairweather, 46, broke her wrist. Last night the mum-of-two said: “He’s making the most sensible decision he can. It’s a shame he didn’t make it a bit sooner but it’s the right thing to do.
“Undoubtedly the roads will be safer now. It won’t have been easy for him to make as it is a loss of independence. But he can work around it.” She said she had done “nothing but cry” this week after having an op to screw a metal plate into her arm. Two weeks ago care support worker Emma, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, told the Sunday Mirror how Philip belatedly sent a letter of apology to her.
But despite giving up driving the Duke may still face a court case. Last night Norfolk Police confirmed the Duke had handed them his licence and said it had passed a file on the crash to the CPS.