Crash drama that led to Prince Philip finally giving up his licence

His driving has been labelled ‘slightly mad’.

But Prince Philip did at least know when it was time to call it a day.

His decision to finally stop driving in 2019 followed a hair-raising near-miss involving a nine-month-old baby. 

Sensibly, he wrote a letter apologising personally for his part in the collision and the Palace later said he was voluntarily giving up his licence.

Now, the extraordinary events are back in the spotlight after veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald on Sunday blasted the late Duke of Edinburgh’s driving.

Speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival, the 85-year-old told the audience how Prince Philip had driven his car into a puddle of mud and couldn’t get out.

The former News at Ten ITN presenter added: ‘I am not allowed to say this publicly, but I thought his driving was slightly mad.’

But McDonald also recalled how he had enjoyed a ‘lovely’ day with the prince, who had been ‘extraordinarily generous’ with his time.

Eleven years later, on February 9, 2019, Philip surrendered his licence just weeks after he was involved in a car crash aged 97. 

A statement from Buckingham Palace at the time said: ‘After careful consideration the Duke of Edinburgh has taken the decision to voluntarily surrender his driving licence.’ 

On January 17, 2019, the late Queen’s husband had pulled out of a junction and was hit by a Kia before his car landed on its side.

The Kia was carrying a nine-month-old baby, its 28-year-old mother, and another woman, 45, who suffered a broken arm and an injured knee. The child was unhurt.

Roy Warne witnessed the incident and pulled over to help. He assisted Philip out of his Land Rover and said the prince ‘asked how everyone was and whether anyone was hurt’.

Mr Warne added the prince had told his wife ‘he was dazzled by the sun’ before he pulled out onto the road.

At the time, Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road traffic accident with another vehicle this afternoon.

‘The Duke was not injured. The accident took place close to the Sandringham Estate. Local police attended the scene.’

The 97-year-old was unharmed and later wrote a letter apologising for his part in the collision to Emma Fairweather, who was a passenger in the Kia and suffered a broken wrist.

In the letter, the Duke of Edinburgh said that he had driven across the road ‘any number of times’ and that he wouldn’t have any difficulty seeing traffic coming in normal conditions. 

He expressed how he was sorry and had been dazzled by the ‘low sun’. 

Ms Fairweather told the Sunday Mirror she was ‘chuffed’ with the letter, adding: ‘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.

‘A lot of people said it was unrealistic that I wanted that human kindness from Prince Philip – which is what I saw this letter as.’

It is understood a similar letter was sent to the driver of the Kia. 

The Crown Prosecution Service previously said it was not in the ‘public interest to prosecute’ after the collision. 

When Philip voluntarily surrendered his driving licence weeks later, Ms Fairweather said the Duke’s decision was ‘sensible and the right thing to do’ and added that it was a ‘shame he didn’t make the decision sooner’. 

At the time, Norfolk Police said: ‘We can confirm that the 97-year-old driver of the Land Rover involved in the collision at Sandringham on Thursday, 17 January 2019 has today voluntarily surrendered his licence to officers. 

‘We will follow the standard procedure and return the licence to the DVLA.’

Queen Elizabeth reportedly gave up driving on public roads two months after Philip’s accident. 

At the time it was claimed the monarch would instead be chauffeured on public roads but may choose to drive on private roads, The Sunday Times reported.

Philip was spotted back behind the wheel but on private roads in April 2019 after the incident. 

He was seen driving through the grounds of Windsor Castle on April 18 as the Queen attended the Maundy service at the nearby St George’s Chapel.