Day of shock for a royal, a mother and a baby

The Duke of Edinburgh hit the headlines early in the new year when he miraculously escaped serious injury in a car crash involving a mother and a baby.

The 97-year-old had been enjoying his retirement before becoming embroiled in the road accident and ensuing PR disaster.

On the afternoon of January 17, the Land Rover Freelander Philip was driving was hit by another vehicle when he pulled out of a driveway on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on to a busy A road after being dazzled by the low sun.

The Duke’s car flipped over and he was trapped and had to be rescued through the sun roof by a passing motorist.

Philip, who was driving without a protection officer, was left “very shocked and shaken”.

He reportedly said “I’m such a fool” as he was pulled from the wrecked car by Roy Warne.

The other vehicle, a Kia, was carrying a nine-month-old baby boy, his mother, who was driving, and another woman, Emma Fairweather. The baby was unhurt, but both women had to be treated in hospital and passenger Ms Fairweather, who broke her wrist, called for Philip to be prosecuted if found to be at fault.

Buckingham Palace said wellwishes had been exchanged but Ms Fairweather said she had only received a message from her police family liaison officer saying: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would like to be remembered to you”.