King of the road no more... Philip, 97, gives up licence as police hand crash file to prosecutors
PRINCE PHILIP has given up his driving licence in the wake of his car crash last month, Buckingham Palace announced last night.
But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the 97-year-old Duke could still face criminal charges after police handed over a dossier about the accident to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Prince’s decision to surrender his licence comes after weeks of growing pressure on him to quit driving following the accident near the Sandringham estate.
Other members of the Royal Family have reportedly been pleading with the strong-willed Duke for years to give up his licence, but a source stressed that it had been ‘entirely his decision’.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘After careful consideration, the Duke of Edinburgh has taken the decision to voluntarily surrender his driving licence.’
Some motoring lawyers suggested at the time of the accident that giving up his licence voluntarily could help Philip avoid prosecution.
However, Norfolk Police last night confirmed for the first time that the investigation into his crash has led to a file being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether he should be charged with an offence.
In the worst-case scenario he faces the embarrassment of an appearance in front of King’s Lynn magistrates to answer a charge of driving without due care or attention, which carries a maximum £5,000 fine. The CPS said last night: ‘We review each file carefully before a decision is made and will take this development into account.’
The Palace declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Norfolk Police also confirmed that the Prince had voluntarily surrendered his licence to officers, adding: ‘We will follow the standard procedure and return the licence to the DVLA.’
It is not clear if the Prince will continue to drive on the private roads of the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate, where he would not need a licence.
Philip said he had been dazzled by sunlight on January 17, when he drove his Land Rover Freelander out on to a busy road and collided with a Kia carrying two women and a baby. The Prince was miraculously found to be unhurt.
The baby in the other car escaped injury, but both the 28-year-old mother who was driving and the other woman, Emma Fairweather, needed hospital treatment.
Ms Fairweather, 46, suffered a fractured wrist and said afterwards that she felt ‘lucky to be alive’.
Philip took a police eyesight test shortly after the incident to prove he was safe to be behind the wheel.
Just two days after the crash, The Mail on Sunday revealed that the Duke was again out driving on a public road – but without wearing a seatbelt. He was given a warning by police about safety.
The Prince was also criticised for being slow to apologise for the incident, writing letters to the women in the other car only after Ms Fairweather went public with her story.
He said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for what happened, telling her: ‘I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming, and I am very contrite about the consequences.
‘I was somewhat shaken after the incident... I have since learned you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this. I wish you a speedy recovery from a very distressing experience.’
The Queen has extended her winter break at Sandringham as she waits to see if Philip will face any further action.
‘This was entirely the Prince’s own decision’