A woman was hospitalized and sustained serious injuries after being hit by Prince William and Kate Middleton’s convoy in London.
William and Kate were en route from London to Windsor when the accident took place on Upper Richmond Road in Richmond, according to BBC.
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct told The Telegraph that a police motorcycle was involved in a collision with a female pedestrian. The injured woman, according to the spokesperson, is in her 80s. She was in serious but stable condition.
The collision occurred just 300 yards from the woman’s home.
Pedestrian accidents are becoming more common all over the world, as more drivers and pedestrians are distracted. In Canada, for example, 10% of pedestrian fatalities were due to cell phone use, while 30% of deaths were due to drivers failing to yield, speeding, disobeying traffic signals or improper turning.
In the case of the royal convoy, the motorcyclist was allegedly on the wrong side of the road and clearing traffic for other vehicles in the convoy.
It is understood that William and Kate have sent flowers to the family and will be in touch with the woman going forward. William reportedly wanted to visit the woman in the hospital, but he will now wait until she’s recovered.
Kate and William were not informed of the accident until they reached Windsor, and were reportedly deeply upset about the situation.
The couple was en route for the Order of the Garter ceremony, an order of knighthood that dates back to the 15th century. This year, the ceremony featured King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain as well as Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the incident.
This isn’t the first accident related to the royals. In February of this year, Prince Philip surrendered his license after being involved in an accident in Sandringham which injured two people.
The accident occurred when Philip was driving near the Queen’s estate in Sandringham, where she and Philip typically stay after the Christmas holiday.
The UK does not have a legal age limit for driving, but those over the age of 70 are required to renew their licenses every three years. Drivers are required to declare any medical conditions they have and confirm that they meet the eyesight requirements for driving a vehicle. Prince Philip voluntarily surrendered his license after pressure from the public to do so.