Duke of Edinburgh’s Road Accident

[SirGawain]

AIBU to ask why on earth is the Duke of Edinburgh driving at the age of 97.

Wasn't queenie papped without wearing a seatbelt by the rags today?

Yesterday she wasn't wearing a seatbelt - my mistake. Today papped wearing one.

Perhaps he'll get sent on one of the driver re-education courses😁

There are some overly dramatic assertions on this thread and some completely unrelated ageism!

Does that road not run east/west and have the bright sun very low at this time of year?
Which is what has been reported as the reason behind (excuse) for pulling out. That's not a good enough reason, bit it happens to all ages of driver!

But to say baby, and two women and link that to serious injuries!!!?? Where has that come from.

The baby was unharmed! The two women...one cuts to knee, the other a broken wrist, is what was reported.

Now I would be more worried about him being out on the roads with his team of horses and carriage!

Eyesight, could potentially be an issue, bit again, all ages suffer that, and most do not get their eyes tested

The baby was unharmed yup but the other two occupants in the car were injuried.

Love to know what MN would say if someone posted that they were involved in an car accident with their baby and the other driver was 97 and had totalled his car.

Why did the say Philip wasn’t taken to hospital - when it turns out today that he was?

Apparently he told an eyewitness the sun was in his eyes

Somebody who makes the decision to pull out when they can't see because the sun is in their eyes should not be driving. On my way home from work at this time of year I take a different, longer route home so I have the setting sun behind me not in front of me.

Apparently he was driving on public roads because the cottage he lives in is not actually on the estate.

I know it is none of my business but why does he live in a separate cottage and not at the main house at Sandringham.

Allegedly he was seen by a doctor after the crash and went to hospital the following day. I suspect the hospital visit was for an x day just to check on his hip.

Look, it could be that she related factors were involved.
It could be that the other driver was speeding. (It is a high accident road, they are taking measures to reduce speed)
It could be that it was one of those accidents that even good drivers in the prime of life have sometimes. Good, capable drivers who make one mistake, one bad decision. It happens.

User, I think the Queen and the Duke have been living seperate lives for many years. Apparently there is lots of scandalous stuff that won't come out until after both die.

‘Age related factors’

Apparently there is lots of scandalous stuff that won't come out until after both die

Or it could be that they sometimes like their own space. Not as interesting as people starting rumours though, I guess.

ManicUnicorn thank you! It seems strange given the size of Sandringham and their respective ages.

Superb post, FunkyKingston

And considering one of the women suffered a broken wrist, I'm surprised some are still saying there were "no serious injuries". Granted a fractured wrist's hardly an intensive care job, but it still sounds pretty unpleasant to me

And if you have had the misfortune to have a serious car accident with your children in the car you will know how it effects you for years after.
I still have neck damage 12 years later.

It's not intensive care no but it's serious enough - plenty of interests and some jobs rely on having two wrists and obviously there is the issue of writing and long term arthritis/pain in the join.

Even if they were speeding (and I haven't seen any reports to say that they were) he still pulled out in front of them and has admitted that he couldn't see because of the sun in his eyes.

Sorry..

A minor collision does not result in a ROLLED vehicle...

My OH had a 'minor collision' just before Christmas.. he tapped the wheelcover on the back of a 4x4, cracking our bumper, moving some dust on the other vehicle.. thats a minor collision..

Rolling a 4x4 turning out of a private drive onto a main road is not bloody minor in any way!

It isn't a private drive, it's a smaller road emerging on to a larger one. A larger road which is a notorious accident spot.

WitchesWeb the rumours have been out there for years, I'm certainly not starting them.

Love how the spin has started from the palace. Apparently the people in the other car were contacted and 'pleasantries were exchanged'. More like they've been paid off and told not to speak to the press, likewise that woman who posted on Facebook claiming the Duke had almost crashed into her before swiftly deleting the comment.

I was going to say the same brizzle, as its no excuse, having said that...as I posted I was thinking of how a road can look clear in bright sun.

Why oh why would anyone post any differently if it was someone on MN? Fgs, it caused a very serious collision, that could have resulted in loss of life!

But thankfully, didn't, unharmed baby (hallelujah for safety baby seats!) Cuts to a knee, and a broken wrist (thankfully the cars took all the flack), and yes DofE didn't go til yesterday for hospital check.

I have been in a bash on a motorway that wrote off my car. It wasn’t my fault.

My child was in the car at the time.

I was hugely shaken and upset but didn’t respond with vitriol or anger, I checked at the scene and via the insurance co that the occupants of the other car were OK, and wouldn’t have needed ‘paying off ‘.

I sometimes feel I am entering into a different world on MN. Swift to judge, blame, erupt into anger, think the worst etc etc.

FWIW the Queen an DOE both stay in the so-called ‘cottage’ when at Sandringham. They have been there together since Christmas. But he tends to stay there when she is at Buck House continuing her engagements etc.

My Mum saw them out together, locally, recently.

This whole thread is because of who was involved.

If he's a dangerous driver, or not had his eyes tested then he needs investigations, but sun on road is a common cause of accidents. Actually been in one myself, exact same except I was the one driving past a give way as the TP drove straight across it and slammed into the side of my car, jamming me inside it.

Who he is as a driver is more important than his age, and from the look of the pic he was wearing glasses, one would hope regularly replaced!

Sorry but there's old .And there's 97 and that's very old.You only have to have seen his most recent public appearances to see he is getting frailer.I fully intend to stop driving before I get to the point where I'm not fit to drive. I have seen first hand 2 relatives refuse to give up in their 90s,and both had accidents that were down to their deteriorating driving skills and judgement.Fortunately damage to property ,not people.It will be hard to lose that independence but the D of E has any number of staff and vehicles to ferry him about any time he wants.

Why does it even matter where he stays, or when or why. Its a non story.