Within the letter on Sandringham House letterhead, Philip expressed, “I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads.”
“I have been across that crossing any number of times and I know very well the amount of traffic that uses that main road,” he continued in the letter, which was posted in full by the Sunday Mirror January 26.
“It was a bright sunny day and at about three in the afternoon, the sun was low over the Wash. In other words, the sun was shining low over the main road. In normal conditions, I would have no difficulty in seeing traffic coming from the Dersingham direction, but I can only imagine that I failed to see the car coming, and I am very contrite about the consequences.”
Philip was assister out of his overturned vehicle by an eyewitness and shortly after the incident, he was taken to the hospital to run tests.
“I was somewhat shaken after the accident, but I was greatly relieved that none of you were seriously injured,” he continued. “As a crowd was beginning to gather, I was advised to return to Sandringham House by a local Police Officer.”
“I have since learned that you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury,” the British royal concluded. “I wish you a speedy recovery from a very distressing experience. Yours sincerely, Philip.”
After receiving the written apology, Fairweather told the Sunday Mirror that she was “pleasantly surprised” by the duke’s note, which was reportedly hand-delivered to her home.
“I thought it was really nice that he signed off as ‘Philip’ and not the formal title,” she added. “A lot of people said it was unrealistic that I wanted human kindness from Prince Philip — which is what I saw this letter as.”
