Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is “deeply saddened” following the death of an elderly woman who was hit by a police motorcycle escorting the royal, Buckingham Palace has said.
Helen Holland, 81, had been in hospital in a critical condition since she was hit on the afternoon of 10 May in west London.
Buckingham Palace 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.”
It is understood the duchess will be in touch privately with Ms Holland’s family.
Sophie – the wife of Prince Edward and the King’s sister-in-law – had said after the crash that her “thoughts and prayers” were with Ms Holland.
In comments reported by the BBC, Ms Holland’s son Martin said she died after suffering “multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries”.
He said she fought “for her life for nearly two weeks… but irreversible damage to her brain finally ended the battle today”.
Read more:
Woman dies two weeks after being hit by police motorcycle escorting Duchess of Edinburgh
Duchess of Edinburgh says her ‘prayers’ are with woman
She had been using the “safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing” when she was struck by the motorcycle, he added.
The incident is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A few days later, Ms Holland’s family told Sky News she was a “beautiful, loving, kind and caring lady who would always put anyone before herself”.
They said the mother of four, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of seven was a “well-respected and popular member of the community”.
She was described as “sprightly for her age and nothing stopped her living life to the full, spending precious time with her family, muddy walks with the dogs and lunches with friends is what she enjoyed most”.
