The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie Rhys-Jones, is in deep sadness after the tragic death of Helen Holland, the woman hit by a motorcycle that was part of the royal police escort.
According to the police report, the 81-year-old woman was thrown more than a dozen meters away after being hit by the vehicle at a junction in Earl’s Court, west London, on May 10, just days after the coronation celebrations of Charles III.
Helen Holland, woman run over by Sophie’s police escort, dies
Helen’s son, Martin, informed the BBC about the death of his mother, who fought for her life for almost two weeks, but irreversible injuries to her brain ended her battle. The impact of the accident left Helen with multiple bone fractures and internal injuries.
Helen Holland was in a safe crosswalk at the time of the accident.
Helen Holland was the mother of four children and had ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Following her sad departure, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of the Duchess of Edinburgh, expressing sincere condolences to Mrs. Holland’s family.
Several British media report that Sophie of Edinburgh is expected to communicate privately with the deceased’s loved ones.
The UK’s Independent Office for Police Conduct has been conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, gathering information from witnesses and analyzing footage from nearby surveillance cameras.
An eyewitness described to ‘The Mirror’ newspaper that the victim was thrown across the road and received immediate medical attention from the emergency services.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is visiting Iraq
This tragic news comes shortly after Sophie of Edinburgh made a surprise visit to Iraq as part of her humanitarian work on behalf of survivors of sexual violence in armed conflict.
For two days, Prince Edward’s wife was in Baghdad, the country’s capital, where she was briefed on the challenges facing Iraqi women and girls and ongoing efforts to protect and promote their rights, the Palace said.
This trip, which was kept secret for security reasons, was made at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Ministries.
During her stay in Iraq, Sophie visited a girls’ high school, where she spoke with students and teachers about the education of young girls and their hopes for the future.
She also visited a family planning center to learn about work supporting reproductive health and met with businesswomen to highlight the importance of women’s economic empowerment.