Prince Philip has finally apologised to the mum injured in his car crash, telling her is ‘deeply sorry’. Emma Fairweather, 46, was left in severe pain when the prince’s 4×4 crashed into the Kia she was in near Sandringham on January 17. Her friend Ellie Townsend, 28, was driving the car when it crashed, with Ellie’s nine-month-old son inside.
Neither Prince Philip nor the 28-year-old and her son were injured, but Emma was signed off work for two months due to the pain in her wrist. The Prince was heavily criticised after the crash for not apologising to the victims but it seems now a signed letter has been delivered to the mum. In the letter, seen by the Sunday Mirror, the 97-year-old Duke wished Emma a ‘speedy recovery’.
‘I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads. ‘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 over the Wash. ‘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. ‘I was somewhat shaken after the accident, 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.’
He also said he was ‘sorry’ for his ‘part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads’, adding ‘the sun was low over the Wash’ and that he ‘failed to see the car coming’. The typed 181-word message is believed to have been hand-delivered to Emma’s home in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Emma has since responded to the letter, telling the paper: ‘When I opened it I saw the Sandringham House headed paper and went ‘Oh my God!’
‘He asked how I was and said sorry that I was in pain. I was chuffed. ‘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.’ Despite the Duke claiming it was sunny in his letter though, Emma recalls the day being overcast.