The Wessexes and Family General Chat

[Curryong]

That is really unfortunate and not a great look for the police escort. Hopefully an inquiry will get to the bottom of it so that doesn?t occur again.

[sara8150]

Furious son of pensioner, 81, who died after being hit by police escort says Met has not said sorry | Daily Mail Online

Woman Dies in Escort Motorcycle Collision in London

Duchess of Edinburgh 'deeply saddened' by death of woman hit by royal motorcade | HELLO!

Duchess of Edinburgh ?saddened? by death of woman hit by police escort | Police | The Guardian

Sophie breaks silence as great-grandmother dies two weeks after being hit by royal escort | Royal | News | Express.co.uk

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-05-24/police-killed-my-mum-says-son-of-woman-hit-by-duchess-motorcade

Fuming son of woman, 81, hit and killed by Sophie Wessex motorcade demands apology - Mirror Online

Sophie Wessex 'deeply saddened' by death of woman, 81, hit by police escort motorcade - Mirror Online

Duchess Sophie breaks silence as great-gran Helen Holland, 81, dies two weeks after being hit by royal escort | The Sun
Duchess of Edinburgh send condolences to Helen Holland?s family but investigators still going on but Helen?s son will against police department include the Met police department for what did to his mother?s accident

[sara8150]

The Duchess of Edinburgh ?deeply saddened? after woman hit by police escort dies ? Royal Central

[HistoryGirl2]

^While I can understand that giving any sort of money could be seen as a sign of an admission of guilt during an ongoing investigation, I think it would only be right for the RF to pay for that woman?s funeral. Not sure if funeral costs in the UK are as substantial as they are here in America, but if they are, it would at least be a gesture of goodwill, in my opinion.

[sara8150]

^While I can understand that giving any sort of money could be seen as a sign of an admission of guilt during an ongoing investigation, I think it would only be right for the RF to pay for that woman?s funeral. Not sure if funeral costs in the UK are as substantial as they are here in America, but if they are, it would at least be a gesture of goodwill, in my opinion.

Duchess of Edinburgh send to condolence to Helen Holland?s family what my post says on #126,@HistoryGirl2

?A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ?The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away. Her Royal Highness's deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Holland's family."

HELLO! understands that Sophie will be in touch privately with Ms Holland's family.?

[HistoryGirl2]

^Yes, and that?s nice, but condolences don?t pay for funeral costs; unless you?re saying that Sophie included monetary funds along with her condolences.

[sara8150]

^Yes, and that?s nice, but condolences don?t pay for funeral costs; unless you?re saying that Sophie included monetary funds along with her condolences.

Yes Sophie did send condolences to Helen?s family

[HistoryGirl2]

I?m referring to money for funeral costs, not just saying it?s unfortunate. Did she give them money?

[sara8150]

I?m referring to money for funeral costs, not just saying it?s unfortunate. Did she give them money?

I don?t think so!!

[HistoryGirl2]

Well, I do hope that?s forthcoming. It doesn?t have to be publicized, but losing a loved one is difficult enough, I would expect covering the funeral costs would be the least they could do even if it was just a tragic accident and not negligence.

[Curryong]

I can?t remember whether Prince Philip (or the RF) paid the medical costs for that lady whose car he smashed into with his own vehicle near Sandringham a few years ago now. Of course she wasn?t elderly but I do remember she suffered something like a broken ankle in the crash. She only spent a few days in hospital but she was shaken up and not happy. AFAIR he sent her a card and wrote her a letter profusely apologising. I do NOT believe there was any talk of PP paying her medical or vehicle expenses. At least the newspapers didn?t mention any monetary compensation.

This incident is much more serious of course in that involves death. However, the police officer involved would either have been a Met officer or employed as a motorcycle patrol officer by the borough or shire police force. I believe the police have a process by which the police investigate incidents like this and if there are any expenses occurring as a result of police action then the civilian or his family apply and the police pay from their funds, eventually anyway.

While that is underway (or even afterwards) I don?t believe it would be appropriate for Sophie to offer to pay for the funeral. No doubt it would be seen as a nice gesture by the public and media but that might well affect the investigation, the culpability (or not) of the motorcycle cop and any disciplinary action. I think she should keep out of it. Send flowers, write a note to this old lady?s family expressing sorrow, but other than that steer clear. 

[HistoryGirl2]

In my opinion, that?s precisely why it doesn?t matter. It?s not about whether the public find it to be a nice gesture because this isn?t about publicity. I wouldn?t publicize it at all. It?s about doing a nice gesture for the family who has just lost a loved one, precisely because she?s more than financially capable of doing so.

?Well wishes? sounds almost callous to me. But because it says she?s in touch with the family, I?ll choose to believe that she has done the right thing and taken care of it behind closed doors, privately; the way it should be done. As any honorable individual with means to help would do. I don?t foresee the investigation lasting long, so I?m sure it?s forthcoming because one thing that?s certain is that Sophie herself is not going to be charged.

[Curryong]

This is the most recent report on the incident that I?ve found .

Police investigation launched after Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's motorcycle escort hits elderly woman - ABC News

?The Metropolitan Police's statement said the Independent Office for Police Conduct had begun an investigation into the crash.

Buckingham Palace released a statement that said the wife of Prince Edward was "grateful for the swift response by the emergency services".

Woman dies after being struck by motorbike escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh - MyLondon

The IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said on May 19: ?Our thoughts are with the woman, who has sustained life-threatening injuries, and her family. We have been in touch with them to explain our role and will keep them regularly updated as the investigation progresses.?

"Further comment would be inappropriate because the crash was being investigated," they added.

In the statement, the duchess said her "heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family". (End quote.)

[sara8150]

?Police killed my mum? claims son of woman struck down by Sophie?s motorcade | Royal | News | Express.co.uk

[Amabel2]

It woudl be frightfully inappropriate to offer money.

[sara8150]

It woudl be frightfully inappropriate to offer money.

Never send money!!

[wannable]

Rebecca English
@RE_DailyMail

9m
We don't blame Sophie, says family of motorcade victim

[sara8150]

Family of woman, 81, who died after being hit by Duchess of Edinburgh's escort don't blame Sophie | Daily Mail Online

Family of police escort crash victim say 'it's not Sophie's fault' as they blame cops - Mirror Online

[HistoryGirl2]

It woudl be frightfully inappropriate to offer money.

I?m not sure why doing a good deed would ever be inappropriate. She?s not being accused of doing anything and she?s not under any sort of investigation.

[sara8150]

I?m not sure why doing a good deed would ever be inappropriate. She?s not being accused of doing anything and she?s not under any sort of investigation.

Duchess of Edinburgh not included with that Helen?s family said but remain still investigation after Helen?s death Met Police says will still investigate after her death but Helen?s children will against Met police for what did to his mother

[Curryong]

I?m not sure why doing a good deed would ever be inappropriate. She?s not being accused of doing anything and she?s not under any sort of investigation.

Maybe it?s a British thing. I don?t know. However, news of a British royal paying the funeral expenses of anyone caught up in this sort of incident (and the news would seep out) would imo result in all sorts of reaction from the public and the media, none of it favourable. There would be those who would state that doing so must mean some sort of cover-up by the royal, to negate bad publicity and divert from him/her.

There would also be those who would believe, (entirely without merit) that BP ?is pulling a swiftie? and trying to damp down any official inquiry into the accident. In other words there would be people in Britain who would believe that BP interference into a police matter would be akin to perverting the course of justice. The Police Force should be impervious to any sort of background manoeuvrings and the Palace should keep out of it. That would be the view of many. A sort of ?what has Sophie/BP got to hide?? view.

And quite simply there is no precedent whatever for any royal paying any sort of expenses for any incidents in which others were harmed or injured. PP never offered to pay for car repairs or time spent off work for the woman he crashed into that day near Sandringham. Prss Anne never offered to pay for vet care or medical treatment due to injuries to other people?s children and animals her dog caused, for which she was hauled into Court years ago. The Queen?s corgis were inclined to bite footmen and soldiers on guard on occasion. There is no report of the Queen offering to pay for iodine, tetanus injections or band aids or anything of that sort.

It is in Britain just considered inappropriate for royals to do that sort of thing, even if it is/ would be a goodwill gesture.

[HistoryGirl2]

^There is no precedent of it having been reported on; I don?t believe what they spend their private funds on is up for public consumption, nor should it be. I will repeat again, this isn?t about publicity. I?m not advocating Sophie calling up the Times to brag about any kindness she bestows on anyone; what she chooses to do privately is her business and the business of those she is communicating with. In this case, the family of the woman whose body was hurled across the street.

I?m not sure being British has anything to do with doing kind acts. It would be vulgar to report it and I don?t expect it to be. I simply hope that she has done something for that family in this time of suffering for them. And I don?t expect to see it headlining the Daily Mail. Not every good act by a royal person is reported on to get brownie points with the public, some at least, have a bit more tact than to splash every private conversation and interaction for all to see. 

[Curryong]

^There is no precedent of it having been reported on; I don?t believe what they spend their private funds on is up for public consumption, nor should it be. I will repeat again, this isn?t about publicity. I?m not advocating Sophie calling up the Times to brag about any kindness she bestows on anyone; what she chooses to do privately is her business and the business of those she is communicating with. In this case, the family of the woman whose body was hurled across the street.

I?m not sure being British has anything to do with doing kind acts. It would be vulgar to report it and I don?t expect it to be. I simply hope that she has done something for that family in this time of suffering for them. And I don?t expect to see it headlining the Daily Mail. Not every good act by a royal person is reported on to get brownie points with the public.

What I put in my post was just trying to explain how such things are viewed in Britain.

And if Sophie had paid the news would have seeped out somehow.

If Sophie was so broken up about this lady?s death then why did she then turn up within 24/hours of the news of this woman?s death being reported, thoroughly enjoying herself at a horse show?

And for that matter, what was so darned urgent for Sophie to get to that outriders travelling at top speed were needed as escorts anyway? She is a minor royal, the wife of the King?s youngest brother, not some foreign potentate.

Believe it or not quite a few comments in the UK involve royals and others who consider themselves VIPs treating the main thoroughfares of Britain like their private highways. Travel at high speed, use two or even three back up cars and at least two usually four outriders to get to and from an engagement that is often regarded as not really necessary and ?making work? to allow them to justify their existence on the royal pay roll, via the Sovereign Grant.

In Britain I lived near Sandringham in Norfolk and stayed near Windsor, so I saw quite a bit of this sort of thing over the years.

[HistoryGirl2]

^Whether they should or should not have police escort them is an entirely different argument. I, for one, don?t think Sophie or the police officer in question woke up wanting to fling a woman across the road on their way to a royal engagement, but hey, I guess anything?s possible.

And I don?t think the fact that she was laughing the next day means anything. I recently attended a funeral and the person?s mother and I were laughing about funny comments in her eulogy. I guess that somehow means we?re not sad he?s gone? I don?t think Sophie is required to be sobbing and in mourning for the next three months to prove she feels for the family. In fact, that?s my entire point, small, genuine kindnesses don?t require a camera crew to report on them.

[Curryong]

Well, I don?t believe that Sophie paid for the funeral or offered to, or even thought about doing so. And from my knowledge of British people it would be considered by the vast majority to be completely inappropriate for her to do so. So I guess we will have to agree to disagree!