A woman was killed after being hit by a police motorcycle while escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, through London.
Helen Holland, 81, of Birchanger, Essex, fought “for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible brain damage finally ended the battle,” according to her family.
Buckingham Palace stated that the duchess was “deeply saddened” and extended her “deepest condolences” to the entire family.
The crash is being investigated by the police watchdog.
Ms Holland was in London visiting her sister when she was hit on the 10th of May at the intersection of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl’s Court.
Her relatives stated she was in a coma after the crash, and authorities said she was still in critical condition on Friday.
Martin Holland, her son, said his mother died after “suffering multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries” in a statement.
Sophie, who became Duchess of Edinburgh when her husband Prince Edward took on a new job in March, would contact Ms Holland’s family discreetly.
Chief Superintendent Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit, stated that the “tragic outcome is being felt by colleagues across the Met” and that his “thoughts are very much with the woman’s family and loved ones.”
“Officers are aware that their actions, both on and off duty, are subject to scrutiny,” he added. “Following our referral of the incident, the IOPC launched an independent investigation, which we continue to cooperate with and support.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which probes the most serious occurrences involving police personnel, stated that its investigation was “at an early stage.”
Last Monday, it launched a witness appeal, saying it “would still like to hear from anyone who saw or recorded any part of this incident and has yet to speak to us.”
The watchdog also stated that it had contacted Ms Holland’s family to explain its position and that it would keep them updated on the probe.
The duchess just returned from a two-day visit to Baghdad, Iraq’s capital, where she met with the country’s leaders and visited a girls’ school to hear about their education.
