Prince Philip given ‘police warning’ over photos of him driving without a seatbelt two days after horror crash
The Duke of Edinburgh was given 'suitable words of advice' by officers after he was snapped driving a brand-new Land Rover without being strapped in
COPS have given Prince Philip an official warning for driving without a seatbelt just 48 hours after his Norfolk horror crash.
The Duke of Edinburgh was given "suitable words of advice" by officers after he was snapped driving a brand-new Land Rover without being strapped in.
A Norfolk Constabulary spokesman added: "This is in line with our standard response when being made aware of such images showing this type of offence."
Wearing dark shades, the 97-year-old was seen driving his new black Freelander, which had leaves and twigs jammed under the bumper.
Philip, who was not injured in the crash, was seen driving the £68,000 replacement 4x4 Discovery into the main entrance gate to Sandringham at about 2.15pm.
He had been driving on the estate but it was a public road.
OFFICIAL WARNING
The fiercely independent Duke can be seen driving alone.
Foliage can be seen stuck underneath the front bumper suggesting he had already taken the sparkling new Land Rover off-road.
It comes less than 48 hours after his previous vehicle was towed away following a car crash near the estate, which also involved a Kia.
Two women in the Kia were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries and then discharged.
The Duke later took and passed police eyesight and breath tests.
On Thursday, Philip groaned “I’m such a fool” after being pulled from the wreckage of his Land Rover, a witness revealed.
Victoria Warne, 72, saw his car smash into a Kia carrying a gran, mum and her nine-month-old son.
She said: “He asked, ‘Is everyone all right?’ I said, ‘Not really’.”
Philip who could be charged over Thursday’s crash near Sandringham, took delivery of a new motor - despite the the Queen wanting him to stop driving.
TAKING THE WHEEL
Following the crash, he personally contacted the injured mother and daughter.
The Duke of Edinburgh is understood to have phoned them to check on their conditions after the horrifying collision with their Kia.
Philip, who was treated in hospital for cuts on Friday morning, may now face charges for driving without due care and attention.
But celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, said it was likely he could avoid court by surrendering his licence.
IRON DUKE 'SHAKEN'
He said: “If you emerge from a minor road onto a major road, you cannot say as a defence that the sun dazzled you. The law requires you to stay put.
“In my view it’s not in the public interest to prosecute him because he’s given his life to serving this country. If he were, he would be looking at three to nine points on his licence or a discretionary ban.”
Our exclusive photographs of the aftermath show the shocked 28-year-old female driver cradling her unharmed nine-month-old son who was also in the car.
PHIL COULD BE PROSECUTED
She is sitting in a police patrol vehicle, wrapped in a paramedic’s jacket, with a dressing attached to her right knee.
Her 45-year-old mother also broke her wrist in the crash.
Norfolk Police said the incident would be investigated “and any appropriate action taken”.
Meanwhile measures to reduce the crash road’s speed limit to 50mph and install cameras were passed.
A Norfolk County Council meeting in Norwich heard the stretch had been considered dangerous for some time.
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