Duke of Edinburgh escapes further punishment over estate car crash

The Duke of Edinburgh is to face no further action over his Sandringham car crash, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Philip, 97, voluntarily surrendered his driving licence on Saturday.

He has apologised for his part in an accident on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk when his Land Rover Freelander collided with another car carrying a baby last month, leaving two women needing hospital treatment.

Some 48 hours after the crash he was pictured driving without a seatbelt, prompting criticism.

Chris Long, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England, said it had been decided it was not in the public interest to prosecute.

“The CPS has carefully reviewed material submitted by the police in relation to a traffic collision on the A149 on 17 January this year,” he said.

“We took into account all of the circumstances in this case, including the level of culpability, the age of the driver and the surrender of the driving licence. We have decided that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute. All those involved in the collision have been informed and provided with a full explanation in writing.”

The decision was made after considering all the evidence submitted by the police and in accordance with the two-stage test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “The Duke of Edinburgh respects the decision taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Philip is believed to have remained at Sandringham, where he is spending much of his retirement.