Prince Philip’s ‘Slightly Crazy’ Driving Remembered as Accident Changed Royal Road Habits

Prince Philip’s driving, once described as “slightly crazy,” has resurfaced in public discussion after remarks made by veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. As reported by the Daily Mail, the late Duke of Edinburgh’s decision to voluntarily give up his driving license in 2019 followed a serious car accident that could have had far worse consequences.

In January 2019, at the age of 97, Prince Philip was involved in a terrifying crash near the Sandringham Estate. His Land Rover collided with a Kia, overturning in the process. Inside the Kia were a 28-year-old woman, a 45-year-old passenger, and a nine-month-old baby. The baby fortunately escaped unharmed, but the women suffered injuries, including a broken arm and an injured knee.

Eyewitness Roy Warne was quick to respond at the scene and helped Prince Philip out of his overturned vehicle. According to Warne, the Duke was immediately concerned about the well-being of the other people involved, asking if anyone had been injured. Warne also noted that Philip had told his wife he was “dazzled by the sun” as he pulled out from an intersection, leading to the collision.

Following the incident, Buckingham Palace issued a statement confirming that Prince Philip was unharmed. “The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road traffic accident with another vehicle this afternoon,” the Palace reported. While Philip escaped injury, the incident marked a turning point for the Duke, who decided soon afterward to give up his driving license.

Weeks later, on February 9, 2019, Buckingham Palace announced that “after careful consideration, the Duke of Edinburgh has made the decision to voluntarily surrender his driving licence.” This decision followed the significant public discussion surrounding the accident and concerns about the Duke’s age and ability to drive safely.

In the aftermath of the crash, Prince Philip wrote a personal letter of apology to Emma Fairweather, one of the women injured in the accident. In his letter, he explained that he had crossed the road “many times” and typically had no trouble seeing oncoming traffic, but on that day, the “low sun” had obscured his vision. Fairweather shared her reaction with the Sunday Mirror, expressing her surprise and gratitude for the personal nature of the letter. “I thought it was very nice that he signed as ‘Philip’ and not with a formal title,” she said. “I was pleasantly surprised by the personalized nature.”

A similar letter was sent to the driver of the Kia. Although the incident was reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service, it was ultimately determined that prosecuting the Duke was not in the “public interest.”

Prince Philip’s decision to stop driving was met with approval from Fairweather, who called it a “sensible and the right thing to do,” though she expressed that it was unfortunate the decision had not been made earlier. Norfolk Police later confirmed that the Duke had handed over his license, which was returned to the DVLA as part of standard procedure.

The Daily Mail also reported that Queen Elizabeth reportedly ceased driving on public roads two months after Philip’s accident, opting instead to be chauffeured, though she retained the option to drive on private roads if she wished.

Despite giving up public driving, Prince Philip was seen behind the wheel again in April 2019, navigating the private grounds of Windsor Castle. This sighting occurred shortly after the Duke’s decision to stop driving, while the Queen attended Holy Service at nearby St. George’s Chapel.

Prince Philip’s driving habits may have been considered “slightly crazy” by some, as Sir Trevor McDonald put it, but his eventual recognition of the need to stop driving demonstrated his practicality and concern for safety, even in his later years.