The palace reports that Helen Holland’s death has deeply saddened Sophie.
A police motorcycle escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, through London struck and killed a woman.
Helen Holland, an 81-year-old resident of Birchanger in Essex, fought for her life for almost two weeks, but ultimately succumbed to irreversible brain damage, according to her family.
The duchess received “deepest condolences” from Buckingham Palace and was reported to be “deeply saddened” by the news.
The crash is under investigation by the police watchdog.
On 10 May, at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl’s Court, a vehicle struck Ms. Holland while she was visiting her sister in London.
After the crash, her family reported that she had fallen into a coma. On Friday, authorities confirmed that she continued to be in critical condition.
Martin Holland, son of the deceased, announced that his mother had passed away due to “multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries”.
Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie will privately contact the family of Ms. Holland, following her husband Prince Edward’s new role in March.
The head of the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit, Chief Supt Richard Smith, expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the woman who tragically lost her life. He also acknowledged that the entire Met community is deeply affected by this devastating news.
“He said officers understand that their actions, whether on or off duty, are subject to scrutiny. After we referred the incident, the IOPC initiated an independent investigation. We are still cooperating with and assisting in that inquiry,” the officer stated.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that it would scrutinize CCTV footage from neighboring properties and police body camera recordings as part of its inquiry into the most severe incidents involving officers.
The authorities stated that they would interview officers present at the scene and urged other witnesses to come forward.
The watchdog reached out to Ms. Holland’s family to clarify its role and promised to keep them informed of the investigation’s progress.
The duchess visited Baghdad for two days, meeting with the country’s leaders and visiting a girls’ school to hear about the pupils’ education. She has since returned.